The Supreme Court of Liberia has intervened in the case of Thomas Etheridge, one of the prime suspects in the Capitol Building arson case, by temporarily halting his release from police custody. The stay was issued by Associate Justice Yamie Gbeisay, who serves as the Court’s Presiding Justice in Chambers. This action follows a government petition to prevent Etheridge’s release, which Judge Koiboi Nuta had ordered.
Etheridge, who had been held in police custody in connection with the arson case, was initially freed after claiming that he had been subjected to torture by law enforcement officers. However, following his release, he was re-arrested under a separate legal order, which led to his hospitalization.
Justice Gbeisay’s ruling ensures that Etheridge remains in police custody while the defense and prosecution prepare for a hearing scheduled for January 20. The conference will focus on the validity of Judge Nuta’s earlier decision and whether the release should be overturned.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the gravity of the charges against Etheridge and the circumstances surrounding his treatment while in detention. As the legal proceedings continue, the Supreme Court’s decision to stay his release underscores the ongoing debate over judicial oversight and the rights of detainees in Liberia’s criminal justice system.
