Monrovia, Liberia – January 11, 2024
Gloria Maya Musu-Scott, Liberia’s former chief justice and justice minister, has been sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of her niece, Charloe Musu. The sentencing marks a dramatic fall from grace for one of Liberia’s most renowned judges and politicians, celebrated for her advocacy of women’s rights.
The verdict was delivered by a judge following a jury conviction for the murder that occurred in June of the previous year. The trial revealed that Musu-Scott, along with three other women, had intentionally inflicted multiple bodily injuries on her 29-year-old niece at her residence.
Charloe Musu sustained wounds to her chest, right hand, left thigh, and left armpit, allegedly caused by a sharp instrument, likely a knife, according to the indictment. Musu-Scott, 70, vehemently denied the charges, asserting that her niece was killed by an “assassin” who had intruded into her home in the capital, Monrovia.
The arrest and subsequent trial of the former chief justice shocked many Liberians, particularly as it unfolded during the lead-up to the December presidential election. Musu-Scott was a prominent member of President-elect Joseph Boakai’s political party, playing a key role in the legal team that successfully challenged the election commission’s decision to withhold access to the voters’ roll.
Following the sentencing, emotional scenes unfolded in the courtroom as relatives, friends, and supporters wept. Musu-Scott, along with three other women aged 80, 36, and 20, faced the gravity of the court’s decision.
Gloria Maya Musu-Scott served as Liberia’s justice minister and subsequently as its Chief Justice of the Supreme Court until her retirement in 2003. Later, she entered politics, serving as a lawmaker in Maryland County until 2012. In 2012, she was appointed as the chairperson of the Constitutional Review Committee, contributing to Liberia’s efforts to strengthen democracy and good governance in the aftermath of past authoritarian rule and conflicts.
Her lawyer, Augustine Fayiah, has announced plans to appeal the conviction and sentencing, citing perceived errors in the judge’s decision and alleged interference by justice ministry officials in the jurors’ independence. The appeal is expected to be filed in the coming days.
As Liberia braces for a change in leadership, with President-elect Joseph Boakai set to be sworn in on January 22, the conviction of Gloria Maya Musu-Scott remains a significant chapter in the nation’s legal and political history.
