MONROVIA, Liberia — The Criminal Court on Wednesday denied a prosecution request to remove a seated juror after the State submitted a Bill of Information alleging that the juror, identified as J30-9819, appeared in a photograph with women believed to be supporters of defendant Abu Kamara.
Prosecution Raises Concerns Over Photo
According to the prosecution, the photo allegedly taken from social media showed several women described as members of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) campaign team. Prosecutors argued that if Juror J30-9819 was indeed in the image, her presence on the jury would represent a conflict of interest and potential bias.
To support the submission, prosecutors presented two printed sheets containing images of several women. The juror was asked directly by the Court whether she appeared in the photographs, and she denied being present in any of them.
Defense lawyers argued that the printed photos lacked authentication, had no identified source beyond social media, and had not been verified by any witness. They further stated that even if the juror was a political party member, the Constitution protects the right to political affiliation.
Court Notes Lack of Proof and Dismisses Request
In its ruling, the Court stated that:
No witness authenticated the photographs.
No evidence was presented confirming that the images depicted the juror.
The juror herself denied being in the photo.
The photo did not match the image on the juror’s management form.
The judge also noted the possibility of manipulated digital images, citing the increasing use of AI in social-media content creation.
The Court concluded that the prosecution failed to establish bias or conflict of interest sufficient to disqualify the juror. The Bill of Information was therefore denied, and Juror J30-9819 will remain on the panel.
State Excepts to Ruling
Prosecutors took exception to the ruling, stating that:
1. The Court addressed political affiliation even though the State did not raise it as an issue.
2. The juror admitted her mother appeared in the photo, which the prosecution argued the Court did not consider.
Court Orders Contempt Writs for Bloggers
During the session, the Court also addressed alleged improper communications involving two individuals described as bloggers. One, Mr. Satiah A. Satiah, is accused of contacting the Jury Manager, Cllr. Andrew Nimely, seeking favors. Another, Mr. Benjamin Junior, allegedly posted claims that the judge selected Unity Party members for the jury.
Both individuals were ordered to appear before the Court on Friday, November 28, 2025, to show cause why they should not be held in contempt.
Indictment Read to Jury; Trial Resumes December 1 With no objection from the defense, the Court granted a prosecution request for the Clerk to read the indictment to the seated jurors. After completion of the process, the Court adjourned and scheduled the continuation of the trial for Monday, December 1, 2025, at 9:15 a.m.
