-Wants retrial of her case
By Jerromie S. Walters
Jessica Lloyd, who has been involved in a legal battle with an American missionary, Lucas Richard, over a criminal attempt to commit murder and aggravated assault, has strongly expressed disappointment in the ruling for a retrial of her case against Richard, rallying support to ensure impartial justice.
In what many have characterized as a travesty of justice, Criminal Court B on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, in its final verdict in the attempted murder case involving Lucas Richard and Jessica Lloyd, declared Lucas Richard not guilty. Ms. Cynthia Lloyd, Jessica’s mother, told this paper that the outcome of Wednesday’s verdict has made Jessica unable to relate to her community.
On September 19, 2023, the government charged Lucas Richard, the Executive Director of Administration at the Indigenous Mission TIM, Inc., an American citizen working as a missionary in Creekside, with criminal attempt to commit murder and aggravating assault in violation of chapters 10 and 14, sections 10.1 and 1420, of Liberia’s new penal law.
Magistrate John L. Griggs of the Bushrod Island Magisterial Court disclosed the court’s position after Lucas Richard inflicted wounds on Jessica Lloyd when he reportedly attempted to murder her. However, it took a new trend up the Temple of Justice Wednesday after the court informed Jessica’s legal team that she didn’t provide sufficient evidence that warranted a guilty verdict on Lucas Richard. As a result, the court formally exonerated Lucas.
Cynthia Lloyd, enraged by the concussion, told WomenVoices on Thursday, April 18, 2024, that their family is still interested in pursuing the case. They believe that the court has dispensed justice, and they insist on preventing Lucas from walking free.
Initially, Lucas’ team decided to disregard the case in exchange for $USD20,000. Members of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia witnessed this decision, she said. Ms. Lloyd told WomenVoices that Lucas’ legal team openly acknowledged to them (Jessica’s family) that the case was a big punch in their faces (Lucas’ family and church), and they couldn’t live to see the aftermath. The alleged engagement is fueling Ms. Cynthia Lloyd and her family’s doubts about the court verdict.
Upon rejecting funds offered to them by Lucas’ legal team, Ms. Lloyd was certain that her daughter (Jessica) would have gotten justice because that was more important to her. Unfortunately, she said that April 17, 2024, brought the worst shock of her life, as her inner spirit departed her due to the distress and agony of partial justice. “When the judge handed down the verdict, I broke down because, even though we were told that it would have gone that way, I still didn’t believe it because I have confidence in the justice system.”
She disagrees with those who claimed that their witnesses provided conflicting testimonies because she believes the evidence (S) was vivid. What baffles her the most is Lucas’ claim that Jessica was hit by a motorcycle. “How can a motorcycle hit Jessica when she only got hurt on her neck? Lucas will pay for what he did.” To date, she said Jessica still experiences severe headaches almost all the time.
Legislature intervenes
Concerns over the recent not-guilty verdict on American missionary Lucas Richard have prompted the plenary of the 55th Legislature to order its committees on gender and judiciary to investigate the circumstances and provide a report within a week. Representative Moima Briggs Mensah of Bong County District #6 triggered the House’s decision on Thursday, April 18, 2024, by rallying the legislature to intervene in the matter.
Moima Briggs Mensah: “Yesterday, April 17, 2024, Liberians realized the shocking truth of that averment. The judge in the Criminal Court found her assailant not guilty and acquitted him, leaving a young Liberian lady vulnerable to the justice system. This verdict met the appalling despair of thousands of Liberians across the country and many around the world.”
Representative Briggs referenced President Boakai’s comment on the judiciary. He noted in his annual message that inefficiency, corruption, and a lack of public trust have marred the justice system, meant to protect the innocent and punish the guilty.
She reminds the Speaker that it is the responsibility of the Legislature to conduct oversight across the entire government and where justice is derailed or denied. “We must act. Therefore, I implore Plenary to conduct an inquiry that could result in the judge in question being impeached for bringing the judiciary and the entire government into disrepute. It is my ardent hope that Plenary sees the need to honor this request.” However, there are rumors that Lucas Richard has fled the country.
What others think
Richard Watson, a judicial reporter, weighs in. “When the case started, the prosecuting attorney produced nine (9) witnesses, including the victim, Jessica. There were five (5) regular witnesses, three (3) subpoena witnesses, and a rebuttal witness, which was Jessica Lloyd herself. Prior to coming to court, these nine witnesses made individual voluntary statements to police investigators. Upon their arrival at the court, the police station asked them if the statements they had made were their own, to which they all responded affirmatively. Regrettably, their testimony contradicted the statements provided to the police station.
He continued, “In fact, three of the regular witnesses testified that they were told about the incident by someone. For instance, the state prime witness in Ernest Philips’ testimony in chief varies in it. He told LNP investigators that he saw Lucas beating on the victim with an iron on her head and later took a knife to cut the victim’s throat, and he immediately rushed there to rescue her. In another court account, he said, “I saw the victim kneeling by the car, and the defendant pulled off with his car, and one of the car doors hit her in the neck.” More to that, the victim herself, while on the witness stand testifying, did not mention that it was the defendant who cut her throat.”
Moreover, the judicial reporter noted, “He told police investigators that when the angry mob was moving towards them, she told them “to leave him. He’s my husband. He didn’t do anything to me.” She confirmed and affirmed this statement while under cross-examination by the defense counsels. The prosecuting attorney committed a critical error by failing to produce the alleged knife and iron used in the crime. Secondly, the prosecution never produced a photo of the crime scene. In a criminal trial, the court must adduce a prima facie case to convict someone of a crime. That wasn’t the case. The judge ruled that the testimonials of the nine witnesses were uncorroborated. Based upon that and other legal citations and Supreme Court opinions, he ruled the way he did.”
Jessica and Lucas provide testimony.
On Friday, March 22, 2024, 22-year-old Jessica Lloyd took the witness stand to testify against the American missionary, Lucas Richards, whom she alleges assaulted and attempted to kill her. During the direct examination by her lead lawyer, Cllr. Gongloe, Jessica narrated that on September 14, 2023, Lucas visited her home and asked her out. While they were on their way, they made a stop at a local supermarket in Gardnersville to buy some groceries. Jessica testified that during their journey, she started experiencing stomach pains and informed Lucas about it. Lucas then provided her with a different medication, assuring her that it would alleviate the pain.
Describing their further movements, Jessica recounted how they drove to a waterside where they encountered some at-risk youths and sought directions from them. She recalled feeling uneasy as Lucas mentioned carrying a knife in case of encountering a snake. Despite her fear, they proceeded to a crowded waterside area. Feeling apprehensive, Jessica suggested they leave, but Lucas insisted on staying briefly. Subsequently, Lucas claimed to have spotted a snake and urged Jessica to approach him, but she refrained due to fear.
Jessica: “We drove to a waterfall, and we saw some zogos and asked for directions because he (Lucas) said he could not remember the area. The boy led him to the location. Before getting down, he took a knife and said, Just in case he sees a snake, he will kill it. And we walked to the waterside, where a lot of people were. I was afraid and said we should leave the place. We walked to a place, and he said he wanted to urinate. After that, he asked me to come closer to him because he said he saw a snake head, but I didn’t go because I was afraid.”
Continuing her narrative, Jessica mentioned that while driving through Dixville, Lucas remarked on the peaceful nature of Liberia and suggested visiting a cemetery, which she declined. As they continued their journey, Lucas encountered an issue with his rear tires, prompting a stop for repairs in Dixville. During this stop, Lucas handed Jessica an iron tool, indicating dirt in her hair. After attending to her hair, Jessica recalled feeling a sudden sensation behind her head, leading to her collapsing on the grass, her body experiencing a current-like sensation, and her eyes involuntarily opening and closing.
“We got in the car, and he (defendant Lucas) drove around Dixville after we passed. He said Liberia is peaceful and we should go to the cemetery, but I said no. Lucas complained about his back tires while driving, and we stopped around Dixville again. He got down to fix his tires. He told me to seek his advice.
He held an iron in his hand, then handed it to me, saying, “There’s dirt in my hair.” It only took him a few seconds to remove my hair. I felt this sound behind my head, and I dropped in the grass, and my body was like current in it, and my eyes were opening and closing,” she explained.
According to her account, as she lay on the ground, she attempted to sit up, but Lucas pushed her back down. Despite her injuries, she reassured him that she was fine, hoping he would leave her alone. She described seeing Lucas looming over her, and when another boy approached, she falsely claimed Lucas was her husband to protect him. As she tried to reach a nearby car, Lucas struck her with it, causing her to start bleeding. Thankfully, a kind stranger provided her with a cloth to wrap around her neck and assisted in getting her into a keke. Upon arriving home, her family inquired about the incident before rushing her to the hospital.
During her testimony on Friday in Criminal Court ‘B’ before Judge Nelson Chinneh, Jessica Lloyd revealed that she had married Lucas Richards on May 19, 2023, just one month after meeting him in April.
Under the direct examination by her lawyer, Cllr. Taiwon S. Gongloe, Jessica explained how she came to know the defendant, Lucas Richards. She shared that Lucas had begun assisting her and her brother with their fees and supporting their mother while they were still getting to know each other.
“So, he started to help my brother and myself pay our fees and also help my mother. After some time, he asked to meet with my parents to discuss having me as his second wife. He met with my parents, and they discussed having me be his second wife. He said his wife was out of the country.
We began preparing for the wedding, secured his sponsorship, and celebrated our marriage on May 19, 2023. On the wedding day, we took some pictures. The wedding was traditional, and we shared kola nuts. After the wedding, we went for outreach in three counties, and one of the counties, Cape Mount, happens to be Lucas’ mission field county,” Jessica recounted.
Also during the hearing, Jessica revealed that after realizing she was pregnant, she informed Lucas, who appeared elated by the news. Lucas then provided her with financial support to seek immediate medical attention at the ELWA Hospital, where he also received treatment. However, in his testimony while on the witness stand, Lucas Richards denied forcibly aborting Jessica’s pregnancy. The American missionary Lucas Richards denied attempting to murder Jessica and further testified on Monday, March 25, 2024, that his medical conditions cannot allow him to produce a child. A condition that he said Jessica is aware of.
He told the open court that he has a medical condition that causes him to be erectile dysfunctional, stating that before he experiences erection, he must take penile injections to have his penis erected and subsequently take phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors to increase testosterone in his blood cells to facilitate ejaculation. “I am erectile dysfunctional. Before my penis erects, the doctor has to inject me, and before I experience ejaculation, I have to take pills to facilitate the erection process.” Lucas informed the court.
He said Jessica proposed to him that she wanted to be a surrogate mother for any future child he would have, based on his condition. He said that based on Jessica’s proposal to him, he informed her that he was going to have his wife informed. Often, a married couple with a medical condition that prevents them from conceiving their child pays a surrogate mother to incubate a sperm cell in her womb.
He stated that while waiting for his American wife to respond, Jessica’s family requested that he dowry their daughter, and while in the process, the incident occurred.
“While waiting for my wife to respond, Jessica’s family requested that I dowry their daughter, and while in the process, the incident occurred. At no time have I ever used any object or substance to terminate her pregnancy.”
Testifying at Criminal Court B, Defendant Richards further explained that on September 14, 2023, in the Dixville Community, while he and his fiancee were riding in his car, he noticed that the tire of the vehicle was experiencing some mechanical problems.
Based on this, he decided to park his vehicle to repair the issue with his car tire. According to him, after he and Jessica disembarked from the vehicle, she proceeded to the back of the car while he lay underneath, repairing the vehicle.
While Jessica was standing at the back of the car, defendant Richards claimed he heard the heavy and loud sound of a motorcyclist attempting to hold his motorcycle’s brake.
Afterward, defendant Richards claimed he immediately left from under the car and saw his fiancee in the dish with the bike lying on her.
As the motorcyclist tried to remove the bike from his fiancee, he said, “The motorbike guy took the bike from her, and he started shouting for people to believe that I was the one who had attempted to kill my wife,” Richards narrated. While shouting, Lucas said he saw an angry crowd rushing toward him and Jessica, so he pulled off from the scene, leaving Jessica among the angry crowd, and immediately reported himself to the police station.
