NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The trial linked to the Capitol Building arson incident remains stalled nearly four months after Supreme Court Justice-in-Chambers Yussif D. Kaba issued a stay order halting proceedings.
By: Staff Writer
The order came after lawyers representing former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and other defendants filed a petition for a writ of prohibition, questioning the authority of the lower court to continue hearing the matter.
Following the petition, all proceedings before Criminal Assizes “A” at the First Judicial Circuit Court in Montserrado County were suspended pending review by the Supreme Court.
Justice Kaba also instructed all parties to attend a conference and ordered that no additional action be taken in the case until the court reaches a determination.
Despite the passage of several months, the Supreme Court has yet to issue a final ruling on the petition, raising concerns among members of the public over the prolonged delay and uncertainty surrounding the case.
Until a decision is handed down, the Capitol Building arson trial remains at a standstill.
Meanwhile, Criminal Court “A” on May 18, 2026, declared a mistrial in the murder case involving Francis Nana in connection to the death of Officer Mark D. Bracewell.
The mistrial was declared after the 12-member jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict, splitting evenly with six jurors voting for conviction and six for acquittal.
Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie subsequently ended the proceedings after deliberations failed to produce a consensus.
The case attracted significant attention from the security community, with nearly 200 officers present during the trial.
Defense attorneys maintained that the incident was a traffic accident, while prosecutors argued it constituted murder and pushed for a life sentence.
The Ministry of Justice has not yet announced whether it will pursue a retrial in the matter.
