Published: March 27, 2026
MONROVIA — The Supreme Court of Liberia has halted proceedings in the murder trial of Francis Nana after the defendant petitioned for a writ of certiorari, challenging a lower court’s refusal to transfer the case out of Montserrado County.
In the petition, filed by Atty. Jeremiah Samuel Dugbo I against Criminal Court “A” Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie, Nana’s legal team argues that pervasive public prejudice and pretrial exposure have made it impossible to secure a fair and impartial trial in Monrovia.
The defense contends that the trial court committed a reversible error by denying a motion for change of venue, despite what it describes as a “contaminated” public environment shaped by police conduct and extensive media coverage following Nana’s arrest.
At the center of the petition are allegations that the Liberia National Police, led by Inspector General Gregory Coleman and other senior officials, publicly paraded Nana through the streets of Monrovia under heavy media presence. The defense claims the procession—reportedly accompanied by chanting officers and widespread publicity—created the impression that Nana was already guilty of the offense charged.
According to the filing, the display, combined with public demonstrations and commentary surrounding the case, has “poisoned the minds” of potential jurors within Montserrado County, undermining Nana’s constitutional right to a fair trial.
“The environment in Montserrado County is so prejudicial that it robs the defendant of his right to an impartial jury,” the petition states.
Nana’s lawyers further argue that the trial court failed to properly apply Section 5.7.1(b) of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law, which provides for a change of venue where there is reasonable belief that a fair trial cannot be obtained in the original jurisdiction.
They maintain that in a capital case such as murder, the court bears a heightened obligation to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings, irrespective of the severity or public sensitivity of the allegations.
Supreme Court Intervenes
In a significant development, Associate Justice Yussif D. Kaba, presiding in Chambers, has ordered a stay of all proceedings in Criminal Court “A,” effectively suspending the trial pending review of the certiorari petition.
The stay places the case in procedural limbo, barring the lower court from taking any further action until the Supreme Court determines whether Judge Willie’s ruling should be upheld or reversed.
Legal observers say such intervention signals that the high court considers the issues raised—particularly those concerning fair trial rights and judicial discretion—serious enough to warrant immediate scrutiny.
Conference Set
The Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, through Cllr. Sam Mamulu, has cited all parties to a conference scheduled for April 9, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. at the Temple of Justice.
The conference is expected to focus on whether the trial court erred in denying the motion for a change of venue and whether the prevailing public climate in Montserrado County compromises the possibility of an impartial jury.
The court may also consider the broader evidentiary context of the case, including the reliance on circumstantial doctrines such as “last seen,” and whether such evidence can be fairly assessed in a jurisdiction allegedly saturated with prejudicial exposure.
Legal Stakes
At issue is the balance between judicial discretion at the trial level and the constitutional guarantee of due process.
If the Supreme Court finds merit in Nana’s petition, it could order the relocation of the trial to another county—a move that would reset proceedings and potentially reshape the trajectory of the prosecution.
Conversely, if the petition is denied, the trial would resume in Montserrado County under heightened public and legal scrutiny.
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