The Assigned Circuit Judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court, Maryland County, His Honor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh, has upheld a trial jury’s guilty verdict, formed and brought against a 33 years old man, Junior Gbeayou, alia Akon, of Fish Town, Harper District, Maryland County; and adjudged him guilty of the Crime of Statutory Rape and then sentenced him to fifty(50) years of imprisonment to be served at the National Palace of Correction, Zwedru, Grand Geed County.
Defendant Gbeayou, a neighbor to the Victim’s parents, was indicted in August 2023, for allegedly raping a six (6) years old child, when he entered the Victim parents’ room and had sexual intercourse with her, while she was sleeping in her parent’s room on the day her parents were away on their farm.
When Defendant Gbeayou was arraigned for trial, he first pleaded “not guilty” to the crime and then opted for a jury trial, with the selection and empanelment of the trial jurors to sit on the case to hear the facts.
However, when trial of the case resumed, on the next day, his lawyer, Atty. Adolphus Taylor, the County’s Defense Attorney, by leave of court, speared on the minutes of court that the defendant was withdrawing his previous “not guilty plea” to a new “guilty plea”. Interestingly, Judge Wesseh set aside his new guilt plea and ordered the case proceeded with, since the trial jurors were already seated to hear the facts in the case and also since the maximum imprisonment term for first degree rape is life imprisonment.
During trial, the Government’s Prosecuting Lawyer, Atty. Philip G. Wheagar, produced four witnesses, while the defendant waived testimonies and the case was summarized to the trial jury who returned a unanimous guilty verdict against Gbeayou.
Judge Wesseh, while reading his judgment and sentence, said that the defendant’s act was callous and has breached his fiduciary duty of care to child, by taking advantage of the absent of her parents when he entered the room and had sexual intercourse with the child.
Meanwhile, the Defense Counsel has expected to Judge Wesseh ruling and has announced an appeal to the Supreme Court of Liberia.
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