– As Court Demands Medical Validation
By Jerromie S. Walters & G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
Monrovia: In the high-profile Capitol arson case, Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie has ordered independent medical examinations for several defendants. The order, delivered on Thursday, September 4, 2025, comes in direct response to allegations made by the defense that their clients were brutally tortured and sodomized while in state custody
Judge Willie’s decision effectively places a temporary hold on the defense’s motion to suppress evidence allegedly obtained through this abuse. The judge explicitly stated that he requires concrete medical evidence to make an informed final ruling on whether the defendants’ constitutional rights were violated, which would determine the admissibility of key evidence against them.
The courtroom atmosphere was tense as Judge Willie also delivered a stern warning against unauthorized recordings. He firmly denied a request for live streaming, invoking Supreme Court rules and emphasizing his role on a committee enforcing them. “I hope that no one is involved with that because if it were to come up, we will surely investigate,” he declared, underscoring a zero-tolerance policy for any breaches of courtroom protocol.
While the defense accepted the ruling against live streaming, they strongly objected to a key part of the medical examination order. They took exception to the court’s directive that the exams be conducted at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, arguing that a government-run institution lacks the necessary independence to investigate allegations against the state. They formally requested that an independent medical examiner and psychological expert be engaged to ensure an impartial assessment.
Despite this objection, the court clerk was instructed to liaise with JFK and the Monrovia Central Prison to facilitate the examinations. The court has mandated that the results be submitted by Tuesday, September 9, 2025. This report is expected to be a pivotal factor in Judge Willie’s final ruling on the Motion to Suppress, which is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10, at 12:30 pm.
These legal maneuvers are grounded in grave allegations first brought to light in a leaked audio recording in January. In the recording, defendant Thomas Etheridge accused agents of the National Security Agency (NSA) of subjecting him to extreme torture, including beatings, pouring boiling water on him, and terrifying him with a snake to force a confession.
*Etheridge claimed that state security operatives pressed him to sign a pre-written statement implicating himself and others in the Capitol fire. He alleged that upon his refusal, he was taken to an undisclosed location and savagely beaten for hours. His appearance in court this week was only secured through a writ of habeas corpus filed by his legal team, compelling the state to present a detained person before a judge.
These accusations drew condemnation from civil society. The group Concerned Citizens for the Protection of the Constitution, Democracy, and the Rule of Law has strongly denounced the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the NSA for what it terms severe human rights violations.
In a statement, the group detailed reports that Etheridge, arrested on December 18, 2024, was subjected to waterboarding—a simulated drowning technique widely considered a form of torture—in addition to severe beatings and death threats. They described his treatment as a “chilling sign of Liberia’s descent into a police state” under the administration of President Joseph Boakai.
The group demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Etheridge and co-defendant Andrew Lawson, who they say are being detained arbitrarily. They argued that security forces are being weaponized to extract false confessions, thereby eroding public trust and dismantling fundamental human rights protections.
Furthermore, the organization called for an impartial investigation to be focused not on political opponents but on the state security officers present during the legislative impasse that preceded the fire. They issued a rallying cry to opposition leaders and civil society, warning, “Today, it is Thomas Etheridge; tomorrow, it could be any of us.” They also appealed to Liberia’s international partners to intervene and address the escalating abuse.
The entire case stems from the catastrophic fire that engulfed the Capitol Building, the seat of Liberia’s legislature, in the early hours of Wednesday, December 18, 2024. The fierce blaze caused extensive damage, particularly to the Joint Chambers and surrounding offices, in an event that shocked the nation.
While Joint Security, led by Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, has publicly declared the fire an act of arson and claimed to have “sufficient evidence,” their investigation has been met with deep public skepticism. Many Liberians question its sincerity, pointing to comments from President Boakai that appeared to pre-determine the outcome before the investigation had even concluded, casting a long shadow over the entire proceedings and the credibility of the state’s case.
