Criminal Court “A” Resident Circuit Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the release of 45 pretrial detainees from the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach), citing violations of Liberia’s constitutional and statutory provisions guaranteeing the right to a speedy trial.
The detainees had been held on various charges, including murder, robbery, trafficking, theft of property, manslaughter, aggravated assault, and attempted murder.
According to the court, the releases were ordered after the government failed to prosecute the cases within the timeframe required under Liberian law.
Among those released are Alieu Kamara, Abraham Maryland, Mark David, Jerome Brown, Blessings Sherman, Louis Demen, Emmanuel Momo, Mark Moore Demand, Alfred Tucker, and Emmanuel Tarpeh.
Judge Willie ruled that the continued detention of the inmates violated Sections 18.1 and 18.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which authorize the dismissal of criminal complaints or indictments when the state fails to indict or bring defendants to trial during the succeeding court term without sufficient justification.
The court noted that several of the detainees had remained behind bars for between eight and nineteen court terms — the equivalent of nearly two to four years — without indictment or trial.
Judge Willie described the prolonged detention as a direct violation of both Liberia’s Constitution and internationally recognized human rights protections guaranteeing due process and speedy trial.
The 45 inmates released form part of a larger group of approximately 219 detainees expected to be discharged “without prejudice to the state,” meaning prosecutors retain the legal right to refile charges if the government later decides to proceed with prosecution.
During the hearing, prison authorities reportedly informed the court that overcrowding at South Beach Prison has reached alarming levels, with inmates allegedly being forced to “sleep on each other” due to limited space and deteriorating prison conditions.
Judge Willie said the worsening conditions at the prison further underscored the importance of enforcing statutory deadlines governing criminal prosecutions.
The ruling followed a motion filed by defense lawyer Sennay Carlor II, who argued that the government had failed to prosecute the detainees in keeping with the requirements of Liberian law.
Legal observers say the latest release order highlights growing national concerns over prolonged pretrial detention, prison overcrowding, and systemic delays within Liberia’s criminal justice system.
Several justice advocates have also renewed calls for the government to fast-track the completion and operationalization of the Cheesemanburg Prison Facility as part of broader efforts to reduce congestion at the Monrovia Central Prison.
Judge Willie has issued similar rulings in previous years over prosecutorial delays.
In April 2025, the court ordered the release of more than 100 detainees after defense lawyers, including Cllr. Sennay Carlor II and Cllr. Aloysius Toe, challenged the government’s failure to proceed with prosecution within the timeframe established by law.
The judge also previously released 17 inmates who had reportedly remained in detention for up to nine years without indictment, citing violations of Article 21(f) and (h) of the Liberian Constitution as well as Section 18.2 of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Judge Willie has consistently emphasized that such release orders do not amount to declarations of innocence, but rather reflect the government’s failure to prosecute cases within the legal period mandated by law.
Before executing the latest release order, Judge Willie instructed the Clerk of Court to obtain and document the addresses and contact information of all discharged detainees for future legal reference if necessary.
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