Liberia: Why Is Howard-Taylor Fighting the Tape?

What the report says

Former Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor appeared at Monrovia City Court on Thursday in a preliminary examination tied to allegations of an international cocaine trafficking conspiracy, according to Liberian Observer via AllAfrica. The hearing was before Magistrate Ben Barco and focused on whether prosecutors can show probable cause to send the case to Circuit Court, not on deciding guilt or innocence.

The State’s first witness, Raphael A. Wilson of the Liberia National Police’s Crime Services Department, described an investigation that allegedly links Taylor to co-conspirators, cellphone messages, and audio recordings. According to his testimony, investigators say the materials came from a phone voluntarily surrendered by Sheikh Bashiru Kante, one of the alleged associates. The defense disputed the use of the electronic evidence, raising objections based on privacy, authentication, hearsay, and chain of custody.

A key moment came when prosecutors sought to play the audio recordings in court. Taylor’s lawyers moved to block them, arguing the State had not laid a proper foundation. The magistrate did not issue an immediate decision and adjourned the hearing until Monday. The dispute matters because the recordings are described by prosecutors as central evidence in the case, while the defense is pushing back on how they were obtained and whether they can be admitted.

The article also notes that the defense had earlier asked the court to require full access to the State’s evidence for the preliminary stage, but the court declined that request.