MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Prosecuting lawyers on Thursday continue with the production of oral and documentary evidence at the Monrovia City Court, in the case involving suspects Thomas Etheridge and Eric Susay, in connection with the burning of the Capitol Building.

The prosecution’s second witness, Senior Police Investigator, Alvin James’ testimonies to the court provided detailed information similar to LNP senior officer Raphael Wilson’s accounts, linking the two suspects to the alleged arson attack on the Capitol Building on December 18, last year.

Witness Alvin James’ account to the court, among other things, claimed that the suspects earlier met at the Invincible Park and later the PHP to conspire and agreed to implement said plans.

The evidence to the court was supported by documentary evidence including the Clora bottle and matches box that were used to burn the building, which were later marked and confirmed by the court.

The testimonies further unveiled that suspect Thomas Etheridge’s phone that was seized contained several messages after prosecuting lawyers prayed for a search and seizure of his call logs where it was suspected that he had a plan with other suspects who are on the run.

Officer Alvin James also told the court that the suspects were supported by some big hands, but refused to disclose their names on grounds that the investigation is still ongoing despite being quizzed on several occasions by defense lawyers, Cllr. Wilkin Wright, to name the suspects that are on the run and the big hands that are behind the December 18, 2025, attack on the Capitol Building.

Thursday’s hearings are a result of defense lawyers’ application to the court for preliminary examination as provided by Chapter 12, Section 12.7 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which states that the defendants can pray for preliminary examination during their first appearance in Court.

Meanwhile, the matter is expected to continue on Friday, January 23, 2025, when the state will produce its third witness at 2 pm.