NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The legal team and family of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor are challenging the government’s handling of the criminal case against her, insisting that she has not been indicted by a grand jury and remains innocent of all charges.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
In a statement issued Monday, September 7, the defense said Howard-Taylor has never been served a proper indictment outlining the specific facts and allegations against her.
The legal team said it had requested a preliminary examination to review the evidence used to justify what it described as her “unprecedented arrest and incarceration.”
However, according to the defense, prosecutors objected to the preliminary examination, and the court sustained the objection.
The lawyers argue that the decision denied the defense access to potentially favorable evidence and prevented them from meaningfully questioning prosecution witnesses at the preliminary stage.
Rather than continue with the preliminary proceedings, the defense said it has decided to proceed directly to trial, where it expects pretrial discovery to provide greater access to the evidence.
The statement also sought to correct what the defense described as widespread confusion over the procedural status of the case.
“As of this statement, Madam Howard-Taylor has not been indicted by a grand jury,” the legal team said, stressing that a criminal complaint filed by the government is not the same as an indictment, and that an indictment itself would not amount to a conviction.
The defense further accused official statements and media reports of creating the impression that Howard-Taylor has already been indicted or found guilty.
It maintained that the former Vice President is innocent of the allegations and warned that presenting accusations as established facts could prejudice the case and undermine public confidence in Liberia’s justice system.
The defense is calling on the government to clearly distinguish between allegations, an indictment and a conviction, while urging public officials to avoid statements it considers prejudicial while the matter is before the courts.
It is also appealing to the media to verify the procedural status of the case and report allegations as allegations rather than established facts.
Civil society organizations, religious leaders and human-rights advocates are being urged to demand due process and humane treatment for Howard-Taylor.
The former Vice President is also appealing to Liberians to remain peaceful and committed to justice.
According to her legal team, Howard-Taylor is not seeking special treatment, but only the constitutional protections guaranteed to every citizen, including the presumption of innocence, humane treatment and a fair and impartial judicial process.
The defense concluded by saying it remains confident that a full and fair hearing of the evidence will vindicate the former Vice President.
