US Citizen Lucas Pleads Not Guilty

US citizen Lucas K.  Richards, who is being tried at the Criminal Court ‘B’ for criminal attempt to commit murder of his Liberian wife Jessica Loyd has pleaded not guilty.

Defendant Lucas allegedly attempted murdering Jessica in Dixville community during the afternoon hours of September 14, 2023. 

On Tuesday, March 6, 2024, the court read the indictment prepared by the Grand Jury of Monsterrado to Defendant Lucas and he pleaded ‘Not Guilty’. The defendant requested in open court that due to the media campaign against him after the incident, he would like to waive his right to a juror trial. 

“Due to the media campaign against me, I would like to waive my right to a juror trial,” Defendant Lucas said. 

Prosecution first witness, Raphael Wilson - Crime Service Department of the Liberia National Police (LNP) said on September 14, 2023, the Police took siege of the matter and began investigating. 

He stated that the Police arrested the defendant acquainted him with his Constitutional rights and visited John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital where the victim was taking treatment. 

Wilson said the victim narrated to the investigative team that the defendant went to visit her family home and when leaving, he asked her to go along with him. 

During the ride, Defendant Richard took the route leading towards Barnesville and onward to the Kebah Community going towards Dixville Community using the main street. 

Jessica informed police that the Defendant Lucas drove off the main street when they entered the Dixville Community. She said the defendant got down from his white land cruiser bearing plate number A62650 and walked toward a river where disadvantaged youth commonly known as Zogos were. She (Jessica)furthered that the defendant said those guys where asking for money of which he decided to get back in the vehicle. 

The police furthered mentioned that Jessica said they embarked on their journey but stop again and asked Jessica to get down from the car. At that moment, she narrated that Defendant Lucas brought out a knife from a cage and she then asked why he pulled out the knife, but he responded that he was afraid of snakes and if any snake attempts to bite him, he will attack it by using the knife. 

As she disembarked from the vehicle, she told police investigators that the defendant walked toward the car with the knife in his hands and drove off using the main road to Dixville, Caldwell Township. 

Investigator Wilson added that the victim explained that the defendant Lucas stopped the vehicle due to some technical problems on the car tire. Surprisingly, she got down the vehicle while standing she heard a sound from her neck. 

At the same time, prosecution second witness, Madam Cynthia Llyod, mother of Jessica Llyod said her daughter informed her about her affair with Lucas while attending the YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Bible Mission, located alongside the Roberts Field Highway. She said Defendant Lucas was one of the lecturers and they felt in love. 

She then asked to meet the defendant, the defendant came and asked to marry their daughter. 

Madam Lloyd said that she asked as to whether he was married but he responded that his faith - Creekside Church allow them second wife, and so he was in love Jessica, and would put his wife in the know of the marriage because he didn’t want to continue fornicating. Based upon those reasons, the family held the traditional wedding at the house with the direct restriction of not taking pictures. 

Interestingly, Jessica went to Cape Mount for Bible outreach and her iPhone mixed up with other phones that were placed  charge. The phone had photos and messages between them (her and Lucas). Later, Jessica informed her that she was pregnant and she asked her daughter as to whether she informed her husband Lucas and Jessica responded that her husband was happy with the news.

Jessica mother furthered that her daughter informed her that the school denied her of marching due to allegations of her affairs with Missionary Lucas, and as such, she asked her mother go for her. 

“When Jessica returned, I saw a mark on my daughter hand and I ask as to how the mark got on her hand. She said it was Lucas who give her injections and some medicine because she was vomiting. Just in no time, my daughter stated bleeding but Lucas was not around. I carried her to the clinic and the doctor asked about the medication given to her of which I know nothing about. We called Lucas and he called the medicine name. The doctor sent us home yet I took her to another hospital for treatment where the hospital did the DNC,” Madam Lloyd stressed. 

The victim mother furthered that Lucas returned and apologized for all of the stressed and took Jessica out. Sadly, her daughter was seen in a tricycle bloody up with her head tie. “I asked for my daughter’s husband Lucas and the rider said Lucas was killing my daughter along the road. I quickly took my daughter to the hospital for treatment.”