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Patrick
Kollie (l) and Hans Williams (r) in Central Prison,
Monrovia, Liberia, charged in the death of 13 year old
Angel Togba
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Press
Release from Hans Williams' Defense
March
1, 2008: Lawyers representing the accused, in the matter of
the death of the late Meideh Angel Togbah, say they are taken
aback by statements emanating from the Minister of Justice
that they have failed to bring in a DNA expert to conduct
DNA analysis on the body of Meideh Angel Togba.
The
Defense says its letter of February 15, 2008, requesting the
preservation of the remains to allow DNA analysis, is yet
to be answered by the Minister of Justice. We are shocked
that our decision to undertake DNA analysis is being opposed,
sabotaged and prevented by the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry
of Justice is engaged in subterfuge.
The Defense says further that the charges levied against the
accused, suggest the commission of a capital offense, in the
most terrible and horrendous manner. The law requires the
Government to produce the best evidence which, in this case,
is DNA analysis. That the Government has elected to arrest
one-out-of-five (5) men who inhabited the home, without DNA
analysis, is preposterous and prejudicial; to resist the request
by the accused to conduct DNA tests and analysis after their
arrest, is even worse. Both the Government and the Defense
have a responsibility to ensure that the facts are ascertained,
and the proper culprits punished, if indeed a crime was committed.
Finally, the Defense calls on the Minister of Justice to respond
to its letters of February 13 & 15, 2008, requesting the
full set of investigative documentation in this matter (which
includes a copy of the first Investigative Report, copy of
the second Autopsy and Investigative Reports, and not just
an edited and abridged version; copies of any and all information
pertaining to the crime charged; and names and credentials
of individuals who conducted the first and second investigations
including foreign nationals), and the opportunity to conduct
a DNA analysis. Meanwhile, we are calling for a fair and speedy
trial beginning with an indictment of the currently imprisoned
accused, which has yet to happen. If the Government cannot
indict, it must release the accused.
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Oscar
Paykue (l), Patrick Kollie(c) and Hans Williams (r)
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Mardea
Paykue (l) and Lauretta Paykue (r)
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