Monrovia – Criminal Court “A” has ruled that the autopsy performed on the body of the late Toni Jackson by Dr. Rockefeller F. Cooper II is invalid and inadmissible as evidence in the ongoing manslaughter and negligent homicide trial involving Samuel P. Jackson.
The ruling was handed down by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie following arguments from the Ministry of Justice, which contended that Dr. Cooper does not hold the required qualification to conduct autopsies. According to the prosecution, Dr. Cooper is licensed solely as a Forensic Medico-Legal Death Investigator and not as a certified pathologist authorized to determine cause of death through post-mortem examination.
The defense had objected to the motion, describing it as untimely. However, the court dismissed that argument, noting that the application was filed within the permissible period before the close of the February Term, and that earlier delays were linked to judicial training activities.
In his ruling, Judge Willie clarified the distinction between forensic investigators and licensed pathologists, explaining that while investigators may gather evidence, document scenes, and conduct interviews, only qualified pathologists are legally empowered to perform autopsies and establish cause of death.
As a result, the court declared Dr. Cooper’s autopsy findings “null and void ab initio,” ruling them inadmissible in the proceedings.
However, the court maintained that other aspects of Dr. Cooper’s work, including crime scene documentation, evidence collection, and witness interview, remain valid and may still be used in the case.
The manslaughter and negligent homicide trial against Samuel P. Jackson is expected to proceed during the ongoing May Term of Court.
