Liberia: Felony Courtroom Denies U.S. Citizen From Searching for Medical Care Overseas

Abednego Davis — A U.S. citizen, Lucas Richards, on trial for making an attempt to homicide his spouse, Jessica Lloyd, was on Wednesday, February 28, denied permission by Felony Courtroom ‘B’ to journey overseas for medical care. The sufferer, Jessica Lloyd, survived the assault and is actively concerned within the prosecution towards her husband.

Though Richards’ legal professionals requested permission for a medical checkup in his dwelling nation as a result of his alleged “devastating situation”, Decide Nelson Chinneh modified his bail circumstances to stop him from leaving Liberia whereas the trial was ongoing.

“Richards, who has been bailed, is not going to be allowed to go away Liberia, whereas his trial is ongoing,” the choose mentioned earlier than adjourning the case to a later date.

The federal government opposed the request from the authorized group of Richards, a U.S. Christian missionary, citing issues about his potential non-return to Liberia if granted permission, as there is no such thing as a extradition treaty between Liberia and the US of America.

The indictment towards Richards alleged that he attacked and injured Lloyd in Dixville, Caldwell, on September 14. After Richards’ arrest, Creekside Church, his church within the U.S., discovered concerning the state of affairs and expressed help for the sufferer whereas sustaining his innocence. They clarified that Richards was not a member of their church, however had his personal church in Liberia.

Amid conflicting eyewitness accounts, the church expressed belief within the Liberian authorized system to uncover the reality and guarantee justice. Following affirmation of an extramarital relationship between Richards and Lloyd, the church acknowledged that he was now not eligible for his or her help. They emphasised the significance of searching for fact and justice via collaboration with authorities in each international locations.

“The knowledge we obtained from his spouse, who was serving with him in Liberia, was that Lucas was attacked and robbed, so we posted a prayer request for our congregation. Information later broke that Lucas had been incarcerated and accused of the tried homicide and aggravated assault of a Liberian lady, Jessica Lloyd. He maintains his innocence,” the church additional mentioned.

In keeping with them, Lucas isn’t a member of Creekside, however of a church in Liberia which he based, consisting of its personal board of elders and accountability construction.

“Our social media publish calling for prayer made it appear to the Liberian group that we’re insensitive to the sufferer and showing to defend the accused, and by extension dismiss his costs,” the church famous. “This was not the case. Prayer is our first precedence when confronted with a state of affairs resembling this. The church is delicate to Jessica, who additionally accuses Lucas Richard of perpetrating the act. For her sake and in mild of our relationship with the Richards, it’s all the time our obligation to hunt the reality, a activity made tougher contemplating that the eyewitness accounts are radically completely different.”

In keeping with the church, “We belief the authorized system in Liberia to search out the reality and render justice concerning the allegations.”

Sadly, “now we have confirmed at this time via an eyewitness from Liberia that Lucas had in actual fact entered into a wedding with Jessica, which neither we nor Lois had any prior data of. Whereas there are various factors of allegations we can not verify, for the reason that extramarital relationship has been verified, this alone makes Lucas ineligible to symbolize our church or obtain our help.

“We’re persevering with to work with the State Division, contacts in Liberia, and others to hunt each fact and justice. Please proceed to hitch us in prayer for all concerned,” the Creekside Church assertion added.