MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Jurors at Criminal Court “A” in Monrovia have returned a unanimous not guilty verdict in favor of Ruth Davies, bringing an end to her trial over the alleged murder of Faith Momo following a closely contested presentation of evidence before the court.
Davies had been indicted on charges of murder and criminal conspiracy in connection with the May 3, 2026 incident in the LBS Community, Paynesville. The prosecution alleged that a dispute over missing money led to a confrontation in which Momo was pursued, injured and later taken to Davies’ residence before being transported to ELWA Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
According to the indictment, Davies accused Momo of taking L$16,000 and US$80 from her residence and allegedly organized unidentified men to pursue him from the King Gray area toward ELWA. Prosecutors further alleged that Momo attempted to escape by jumping over a fence, fell and sustained serious injuries.
The prosecution’s case further alleged that after Momo was found unconscious, he was taken to Davies’ residence, where he was allegedly beaten for several hours and denied immediate medical treatment. The indictment cited abrasions allegedly observed on his forehead, chest, knee and thigh, along with fluid from his nose, as part of the evidence presented in support of the murder allegations.
Davies, represented by Public Defender Senny Carlor II, denied responsibility for Momo’s death and presented a different account of what happened after she discovered that money was missing from her residence.
During her testimony, Davies said she went in search of Momo after realizing that the money had disappeared. She testified that she eventually found him injured and lying on the ground and helped place him on a motorbike before taking him to her residence.
Davies maintained that her actions after finding Momo were intended to assist him rather than harm him. She testified that she gave him water and repeatedly contacted members of his family seeking assistance. According to her account, she asked his relatives to take him to a hospital because of the seriousness of his condition.
She also told the court that investigators initially considered a negligence homicide charge and discussed the possibility of conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Davies testified that investigators considered whether Momo’s death could have resulted from his injuries, drugs or another cause, but said no autopsy was eventually conducted after the family decided to bury him.
During the proceedings, Davies also identified a statement she had given to the Liberia National Police as part of the evidence considered by the court.
The defense challenged the prosecution’s allegations and sought to establish that Davies was not responsible for Momo’s death. After the presentation of evidence and the arguments surrounding the case, the matter was submitted to the jury for determination.
The jury subsequently returned a unanimous not guilty verdict, clearing Davies of the murder and criminal conspiracy allegations brought against her in connection with Momo’s death.
The verdict closes the murder trial against Davies, although the circumstances surrounding Momo’s death remain central to the evidence and competing accounts that emerged during the proceedings. For Davies, however, the jury’s decision means that she has been acquitted of the criminal charges for which she stood trial.
The case highlights the role of a jury in determining whether the prosecution has established the charges against an accused person to the required legal standard. In Davies’ case, the unanimous verdict resulted in her acquittal following the conclusion of the trial.
