MONROVIA, Liberia —The family and legal support team of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has called for due process and a fair trial, while insisting that she has not been formally indicted by a grand jury.
In a statement issued Monday, September 7, the legal team said the defense initially sought a preliminary examination to review the evidence surrounding Howard-Taylor’s arrest and incarceration.
According to the statement, the prosecution objected to the preliminary examination, with the court subsequently sustaining the objection. The defense argued that the decision denied it access to evidence that could potentially support Howard-Taylor’s innocence and limited its ability to meaningfully question prosecution witnesses.
The legal team said it has therefore decided to proceed directly to trial, where it believes pretrial discovery will allow the defense to fully examine the evidence and protect the former Vice President’s constitutional rights.
The statement also sought to clarify what the legal team described as confusion surrounding the procedural status of the case.
“As of this statement, Madam Howard-Taylor has not been indicted by a grand jury,” the team said, stressing that a criminal complaint and an indictment are legally distinct documents.
The defense further emphasized that an indictment, if eventually returned, would not constitute a conviction, arguing that allegations must be tested through the judicial process rather than public statements or political pronouncements.
The former Vice President’s legal team maintained that Howard-Taylor is innocent of the charges against her and expressed concern over what it described as official statements and media reports that could create the impression that she has already been indicted or found guilty.
The team urged the Government to clearly distinguish between allegations, an indictment and a conviction when communicating about the case. It also called on public officials to avoid prejudicial statements while the matter remains before the courts.
The media was urged to verify the procedural status of the case and avoid presenting allegations as established facts.
The statement also appealed to civil society organizations, religious leaders and human-rights advocates to demand due process and humane treatment, while calling on Liberians to remain peaceful and committed to justice.
The legal team said Howard-Taylor is not seeking special treatment but rather the constitutional protections afforded to every Liberian, including the presumption of innocence, humane treatment and a fair and impartial judicial process.
“If the Government has evidence, let it be tested lawfully in court,” the statement said, adding that accusations should not be presented as convictions.
The family and legal support team concluded by expressing confidence that a fair hearing based on the full record would ultimately vindicate the former Vice President.
The statement was issued by the Family and Legal Support Team of H.E. Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, former Vice President of the Republic of Liberia.