The alleged murder case involving Unity Party (UP) partisans during the November 2023 presidential runoff election victory celebrations has been officially transferred to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Bomi County.
The criminal trial of Lawrence K. Williams, who stands accused of murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault, was moved from Montserrado County following a ruling by His Honor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, Sr., Assigned Circuit Judge of Criminal Assizes “B”.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, during the 29th Day Jury Sitting of the August Term of Court. The defense team, consisting of Cllr. Anthony D. Kollie, Cllr. Sennay Carlor II, and Atty. Florence G. Harris of the Montserrado County Public Defender’s Office, petitioned the court for a change of venue, citing “excessive pretrial publicity” and the risk of jury bias in Montserrado.
“This case has had assessed pretrial publicity in Montserrado County, which presents the potential for a biased jury pool,” stated one of the defense counsels in open court.
The prosecution, led by Cllr. Irene N. D. Saie and Atty. Bendu Kpoto of the Ministry of Justice, raised no objection to the motion.
The charges arise from a violent incident that allegedly occurred on November 20, 2023, outside the Unity Party headquarters on Upper Broad Street in Monrovia, where supporters had gathered to celebrate the party’s runoff election victory.
According to the indictment, Williams allegedly drove his gray Hyundai SUV into a crowd of jubilant partisans. The collision reportedly resulted in the deaths of three individuals and left twenty-nine others injured.
In granting the motion, Judge Wesseh cited Section 5.7(b) of the Criminal Procedure Law of Liberia and referenced the 2013 Supreme Court ruling in Wilson Darpul et al. vs. His Honor Judge Charles Williams, which affirms a defendant’s constitutional right to a change of venue under certain conditions.
“A change of venue, under our law, is a right to a party (defendant). The Supreme Court made it clear that a change of venue shall be granted by a judge in consideration of the circumstances surrounding the crime,” Judge Wesseh emphasized.
To ensure the smooth administration of justice and the availability of witnesses for both sides, the court ordered the case file and the defendant to be transferred promptly to Bomi County.
The trial will now proceed under the jurisdiction of the Clerk of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court in Tubmanburg, Bomi County. As of press time, no trial date has been announced.
This development marks a significant shift in what is considered one of Liberia’s most politically sensitive criminal cases in recent years, drawing national attention amid the country’s post-election political climate.
