MONROVIA, Liberia — Tension flared Monday at Criminal Court “A” as disagreement arose over the identification of a defendant in a video presented in the ongoing Capitol Building arson trial.
The controversy emerged during the testimony of the prosecution’s first witness, Reafeal Wilson, who told the court that a video footage shown during proceedings captured Defendant Thomas Etheridge and other unidentified individuals vandalizing parts of the Joint Chamber of the Capitol Building. Wilson specifically pointed to Etheridge as one of the individuals appearing in the footage.
Wilson’s assertion, however, was immediately questioned by a trial juror, who said the individual identified in the video did not resemble Etheridge. The juror openly stated that the person in the footage appeared to be “a Chinese person,” casting doubt on the witness’s ability to accurately identify the defendant from the video.
The issue was further amplified following a PowerPoint presentation of the video evidence. One juror informed the court that he could not clearly recognize any of the defendants in the footage as earlier claimed by the witness. He subsequently requested that the video be shown again to allow the jury to independently assess its contents.
Although still photographs taken from the Liberia National Police (LNP) status report had already been admitted into evidence, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie granted the juror’s request for a rescreening of the video. The judge ordered that the footage be replayed on Tuesday morning due to time constraints. Defense counsel did not object to the court’s decision.
During additional questioning, Wilson acknowledged uncertainty regarding the precise date Defendant Jerry Pokah was arrested but maintained that Pokah was taken into custody sometime in 2025 following statements made by another defendant.
After nearly a weeks of rigorous direct and cross-examination by both the prosecution and defense, the court discharged Wilson as the prosecution’s first witness.
The prosecution thereafter requested a continuance, explaining that its next witness was not prepared to testify. Defense lawyers objected strongly, arguing that the request was a deliberate attempt to delay the trial and infringe upon the defendants’ right to a speedy trial. They further noted that the prosecution had close to ten listed witnesses who could have been called to the stand.
After considering arguments from both sides, Judge Willie overruled the defense’s objections and granted the continuance. The court ruled that the trial will resume on Friday, December 26, 2025.
Proceedings were subsequently suspended.
