MONROVIA, Liberia — Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, completed a week‑long jury selection process in the high‑profile arson trial of former House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and several co‑defendants, seating 15 jurors—12 regular and 3 alternates.
However, moments after the panel was empaneled, state prosecutors objected to one of the jurors, alleging that he had actively campaigned for defendant Representative Abu B. Kamara. Presiding Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie reserved ruling on the prosecution’s objection until Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
Juror Removed for Serving Twice in One Year
Earlier in Tuesday’s proceedings, Judge Willie disqualified one of the already seated jurors, Delbreat Miatonia, after it was discovered that he had previously served as a juror during the May 2025 Term of the same court.
Under Liberia’s National Jury Law, no person is permitted to serve more than once within a 12‑month period in the same county.
Court investigators said Miatonia admitted to having served earlier this year, making him ineligible to sit on any jury in Montserrado County until the 12‑month period expires.
Despite the clear violation, Judge Willie opted only to remove Miatonia from the panel and allowed him to leave without sanction—an outcome that surprised many courtroom observers, given that misleading the court under oath is typically treated as a serious offense.
Before his removal, Miatonia had already been fully seated and sequestered along with the other jurors in the basement of the Temple of Justice, a standard measure intended to shield jurors from outside influence.
Sources say this is the first time in recent terms that a juror accused of deceiving the court has been dismissed without disciplinary action. In similar past incidents, jurors have faced contempt proceedings or entire panels have been disbanded.
Prospective Jurors Jailed for Failing to Appear
In a separate move, Judge Willie has ordered the detention of three prospective jurors at the Monrovia Central Prison after they reportedly failed to appear following their selection—behavior the court views as a serious obstruction to the administration of justice.
Background of the Case
The trial arises from the December 2024 arson attack on the Capitol Building, which destroyed the Joint Chamber and further inflamed already tense political divisions in the country.
Former Speaker Koffa, along with lawmakers Dixon Seboe, Jacob Debee, Abu Kamara, and several other defendants, has pleaded not guilty.
They were indicted by the Special Grand Jury for Montserrado County on multiple charges, including:
- Criminal Conspiracy
- Criminal Mischief (Property)
- Arson, among other offenses
With the jury now seated—pending the judge’s ruling on the prosecution’s latest objection—the stage is set for opening arguments in what is widely viewed as one of the most consequential political trials in Liberia’s recent history.
