Liberia’s former justice minister and chief justice, Gloria Maya Musu-Scott, has been acquitted of the murder of her niece by the Supreme Court after serving over eight months in prison.
Musu-Scott, 70, along with three female relatives, had been sentenced to life imprisonment for the February 2023 murder of 29-year-old Charlotte Musu. The case captivated the nation, as Musu-Scott, a prominent figure and women’s rights advocate, had recently secured a significant legal victory against the electoral commission on behalf of the opposition.
In the appeal verdict, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh ruled that the state failed to provide sufficient evidence to convict Musu-Scott and her relatives, citing a lack of proof to link them to the crime. Following their release, Musu-Scott expressed relief but criticized the justice system, highlighting the plight of innocent individuals still imprisoned.
Women’s rights groups, including the Women Non-Governmental Organizations Secretariat Of Liberia (Wongosol), have called for renewed efforts to seek justice for Charlotte Musu, stressing the need to support the acquitted women in rebuilding their lives after the ordeal.
