Former Chief Justice of Liberia, Gloria Maya Musu-Scott, handed life imprisonment for murder

Liberia's former chief justice and justice minister, Gloria Maya Musu-Scott, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of her niece. This marks the downfall of one of Liberia's most renowned judges and politicians, who prided herself as a champion of women's rights. Musu-Scott, aged 70, is currently in jail and is hoping to overturn the ruling on appeal. She was sentenced by a judge after a jury found her guilty of the murder of Charloe Musu, aged 29. Musu-Scott's trial revealed that she and three other women had intentionally caused severe bodily harm to her niece at her residence last June. The indictment alleged that Musu suffered wounds to various parts of her body after being stabbed with a sharp object believed to be a knife. Musu-Scott denied the charge, claiming that the 29-year-old had been killed by an intruder in her home. Her arrest came as a surprise to many Liberians, and her trial garnered significant attention, particularly as it took place leading up to the presidential election in December. Musu-Scott was a prominent member of President-elect Joseph Boakai's political party and played a part in the successful legal battle against the election commission's refusal to allow parties to scrutinize the voters' roll. After the judge sentenced her, as well as the three other women, aged 80, 36, and 20, Musu-Scott's relatives, friends, and supporters were said to be devastated. Musu-Scott served as Liberia's justice minister and later as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court until her retirement in 2003. She then entered politics and became a lawmaker in Maryland County until 2012. In an effort to strengthen democracy and good governance, she was appointed the chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee in 2012, following Liberia's previous history of authoritarian rule and conflicts. Musu-Scott's lawyer, Augustine Fayiah, stated that he would appeal her conviction and sentencing in the coming days. He claimed that the appeal would highlight the "errors" made by the judge and demonstrate that the jurors did not act independently, alleging that their decisions were influenced by justice ministry officials. A prosecuting lawyer, on the other hand, stated after the jury's verdict last month that there was overwhelming evidence against the accused and that the verdict was just. President-elect Joseph Boakai is scheduled to be inaugurated on January 22, having defeated George Weah.