798
Saah Augustine Mbayoh jr
0888553201
augustinesaahmbayoh@gmail.com
The government’s high-profile Capitol Building arson trial suffered a major credibility collapse on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, after its own witness admitted that investigators failed to carry out even the most basic forensic tests on the central pieces of evidence.
The disclosure came during the testimony of Liberia National Police (LNP) investigator Rafael Wilson, whose statements under cross-examination directly undermined years of public confidence in the case.
State’s “Critical Evidence” Was Never Scientifically Examined
Defense lawyers grilled Wilson about the Clorox bottle and matchbox the prosecution insists were used to set the Capitol ablaze.
Wilson admitted plainly:
“No fingerprint testing was done. The forensic technician said it was impossible because of the raw surfaces.”
The revelation triggered immediate alarm from the defense, who argued that the state cannot credibly connect the accused to evidence that was never subjected to forensic scrutiny.
They called the oversight a severe investigative breakdown — especially in a case involving the attempted destruction of one of Liberia’s highest institutions of governance.
Judge Interrupts as Questions Deepen
When the defense pressed further, asking how investigators linked the accused to the alleged crime without any scientific evidence, Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie abruptly intervened, blocking the question and saying the witness had already referenced other evidence.
The move did little to ease suspicions of imbalance in the courtroom.
Undisclosed Police Documents Spark Tensions
Earlier in the session, prosecutors attempted to introduce an LNP charge sheet and investigation report that the defense said had never been shared during discovery.
Calling the documents “strange” and procedurally improper, the defense accused the prosecution of trying to ambush the court.
Judge Willie admitted the documents anyway but ordered that printed copies be immediately handed to the defense for review.
Audio Evidence Battle Erupts
The courtroom grew even more tense when prosecutors pushed to admit several audio recordings before cross-examination.
Defense lawyers objected, pointing to:
• A missing chain of custody,
• No clear information on where the recordings were made,
• No explanation of who created them, and
• The prosecution’s failure to verify their authenticity.
Judge Willie brushed aside the objections.
“Admission does not equal truth. The jury decides credibility.”
Defense Confronts Judge: “Your Ruling Sounds Like Advocacy”
The ruling prompted an unusually blunt response from Cllr. Arthur Johnson, who challenged the judge’s impartiality head-on.
“Your Honor, your ruling sounds like you are arguing for the prosecution,” he said.
“You are speaking to the jury — and the rules strictly forbid that.”
The remark drew a sharp pause in the courtroom as tensions peaked.
Defense Moves to Strike Testimony
The defense later asked the court to throw out Wilson’s testimony concerning the audio, arguing that:
1. The jury had already listened to the recordings,
2. Wilson is not qualified to analyze or interpret them, and
3. The evidence amounts to hearsay.
Wilson disclosed that the recordings were made at LNP headquarters with assistance from the National Security Agency (NSA).
Judge Willie again overruled the defense.
A Case Now Shadowed by Doubt
The government has long portrayed the Capitol arson investigation as airtight.
Yet Wednesday’s proceedings revealed glaring gaps:
• No fingerprint analysis,
• Undisclosed investigative documents,
• Audio with unexplained origins,
• And rising questions about judicial balance.
What was intended to be a straightforward prosecution has now become a trial defined by uncertainty, procedural clashes, and a growing cloud over the government’s credibility.
