Monrovia, Liberia – Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered the release of 45 pretrial detainees from the Monrovia Central Prison, commonly known as South Beach, citing the government’s failure to prosecute their cases within the timeframe required under Liberian law.
The detainees, facing a range of charges including murder, robbery, trafficking, manslaughter, aggravated assault, and theft of property, are among 219 inmates expected to be released “without prejudice to the state,” meaning prosecutors retain the legal right to refile the charges if deemed necessary.
According to court records, several of the released detainees—including Alieu Kamara, Abraham Maryland, Jerome Brown, Blessings Sherman, and Emmanuel Momo—had reportedly remained in detention for periods ranging from two to four years without indictment or trial.
Judge Willie grounded his ruling in Sections 18.1 and 18.2 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which mandate the dismissal of cases when the prosecution fails to bring defendants to trial within the prescribed court terms unless sufficient justification is provided.
The decision followed a motion filed by defense counsel Cllr. Sennay Carlor II, who argued that the state had violated the detainees’ constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy trial by failing to prosecute the cases within the legal timeframe.
During proceedings, prison authorities reportedly informed the court of worsening overcrowding at the Monrovia Central Prison, describing conditions in which inmates were allegedly “sleeping on each other.”
Judge Willie noted that both the prolonged detention of inmates and the severe congestion at the facility reinforced the need for strict enforcement of the law.
This marks another significant ruling by Judge Willie concerning delayed prosecutions. In April 2025, the Criminal Court “A” judge ordered the release of more than 100 detainees under similar circumstances following motions submitted by defense lawyers, including Cllr. Carlor II and Cllr. Aloysius Toe.
Despite the releases, Judge Willie has consistently emphasized that such decisions should not be interpreted as declarations of innocence. Rather, he maintains that the releases stem from the government’s failure to prosecute the accused in accordance with Liberia’s legal requirements.
