– As Jury fails to reach verdict in child rapist trial
By Shallon S. Gonlor
SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County – A 27-year-old man, Junior Wantoe, remains in custody at Sanniquellie Central Prison after a mistrial was declared in a child rape case. The jury failed to reach a unanimous decision following a week-long trial at the 8th Judicial Circuit Court, leaving the four-year-old survivor‘s family in anguish.
The case stems from a disturbing incident on February 19, 2025, in Geanplay Town, District #4, where Wantoe allegedly raped the toddler while her mother, Mercy Barseh, attended a nearby wakekeeping ceremony. Barseh recounted returning home to find Wantoe exiting her child’s room. Moments later, she discovered her daughter crawling and crying, her body and clothing stained with blood.
Police investigators later documented critical evidence, including bloodstained bedsheets, mosquito nets, and the victim’s clothing, which were presented during the trial. After days of deliberation, the 12-member jury returned a deadlocked 4–8 verdict on July 4, 2025—falling short of the two-thirds majority required under Section 20.11 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law. The hung verdict forced Resident Judge Musa S. Sidibey to declare a mistrial and order a retrial, remanding Wantoe to prison pending new proceedings.
Wantoe has denied the allegations, testifying that he entered the home only to “check on the children.” During his arraignment, he pleaded not guilty, insisting he had no physical contact with the victim. His defense team argued that forensic evidence was inconclusive, a claim that may have contributed to the jury’s split decision.
The prosecution faces the burden of reproving their case, risking eroded public trust. The defendant remains incarcerated, with the specter of another trial looming. For the survivor’s family the delay compounds trauma and uncertainty. Judge Sidibey has yet to set a date for the new trial.
