Story By Boima J V Boima
Photo on Flickr by 710928003

A Liberian youth, believed to be in his late twenties was last Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, slapped with a unanimous guilty verdict by a twelve jurors for attempting to kill Leemu Bolongei.

According to the indictment, the incident resulted in the severe damage of the victim’s right eye. “We the jurors of Criminal Court ‘B’ are after the long proceeding of this trial and based on the findings from the two parties left with no alternative but to bring defendant Dairus M. Mbolando guilty for the crime of criminal attempt to commit murder. So say all,” the jurors passed their verdict.

The verdict which was levied before the Presiding Judge of Criminal Court ‘B’, William K. Ware, brought what legal pundits described as a ‘relief of justice’ to Leemu Bolongei who according to the indictment became a victim of an ‘intentional injury’ believed to have been perpetrated by the convict.

The indictment also stated among other things that the convict after bursting the victim’s left eye, chased her with an iron chair so as to enable him to perpetrate more injuries that may have led to her (Bolongei) untimely death.

The verdict brought against Dairus M. Bmolando received mixed greetings from the prosecution and the defense counsel. The lead Prosecutor who also doubles as the Assistant County Attorney for Montserrado, Atty. Witness Doyen excitedly thanked the jurors and stated that their action clearly demonstrated their patriotic tasks towards their beloved country. The proactive county prosecutor also disclosed that the verdict shows a clear demonstration of a fair and transparent justice to the victim who is now deformed as a result of the convict’s action.

However, the lead defense counsel, Atty. Sunifu S. Sherif, who disagreed strongly with the verdict, noted that the prosecution failed to prove the case adding that the juror’s decision was not equivalent to the evidences and testimonies that were brought to court. The defense lawyer therefore vowed that they will seek remedy to the Supreme Court – a court of last resort where people seek redress for their rights if such is believed to be abused at the Circuit Court.

Instructing the jurors before the verdict, the presiding Judge of criminal Court, William K. Ware, after delivering a summary report of the more than 80 pages, urged the jurors to bring down a verdict against the defendant if it is proved that he indeed committed the crime of ‘criminal attempt to commit murder’ on the victim. “On the other hand, if you people go into your room of deliberation and find out that the prosecution did not prove their case against the defendant and if you all are convinced that he did not commit the act, you should bring the verdict in his favor by acquitting him,” Judge Ware instructed the jurors. Following his instruction after an hour long deliberation, the 12 jurors brought down a unanimous guilty verdict against the defendant.