Monrovia — The Supreme Court of Liberia has scheduled the hearing of an appeal in the murder case involving former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three of her family members for July 16, 2024.
The appeal was filed during the March 2024 term of the court. According to the assignment record, all parties involved or their legal representatives are commanded to appear before the Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia at 11:00 AM on the specified date for the hearing.
Background of the Case
On December 21, 2023, a 12-member jury at the Criminal Court 'A' delivered a majority guilty verdict against former Chief Justice Gloria Musu Scott and three of her family members for the alleged murder of her daughter, Charloe Musu. The other family members convicted alongside Scott are Rebecca Youdeh Wisner, Gertrude Newton, and Alice Johnson. They were found guilty of charges including murder, criminal conspiracy, and making false statements to law enforcement officers.
Charloe Musu, a 29-year-old graduating senior at Starz University College in Monrovia, was allegedly killed in February 2023 at the former Chief Justice's residence in Brewerville. Despite the jury's decision, Scott and her co-defendants have maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty to the crime. Charloe was reported to have been stabbed nine times on various parts of her body.
Courtroom Proceedings and Public Interest
The courtroom proceedings attracted public interest, with large crowds gathering to witness the final legal arguments. Among the notable attendees during the hearing at the lower court were former Liberia Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor, Unity Party's Mo Ali, Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, Maryland County Senator Gbleh-bo Brown, Judge Mardea Chenoweth of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Margibi County, and Liberian National Bar Association President Sylvester Rennie.
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Defense and Prosecution Arguments
The defense lawyers, led by Cllr. Richard Scott, questioned the prosecution's evidence, particularly a cutlass allegedly used in the crime, which they claimed showed no signs of use. They also challenged the credibility of the prosecution's DNA evidence, asserting that it was a male's DNA found under Charloe's fingernails, not a female's as claimed by the state.
The prosecution, represented by Montserrado County Attorney Alhaji Swahilo Sesay and others, maintained that the defendants should be found guilty based on circumstantial evidence and argued that they had proven their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Key Witnesses and Testimonies
Several key witnesses and pathologists testified during the trial. Former Chief Justice Scott contended that an intruder, who might have conspired with someone with access to her home, was responsible for her daughter's murder. Pathologist Matthau Okoye supported her claim, stating that the DNA found on Charloe Musu belonged to a male. Conversely, government pathologist Benedict Kolee disputed this, asserting that a female was responsible for the murder.
