Torture Claims Undermine State’s Case -As Istanbul Protocol Report Validates Thomas Etheridge’s Allegations

MONROVIA – A stunning revelation in the ongoing arson case against Thomas Etheridge and others has sparked national and international concern, following a leaked medical report based on the Istanbul Protocol, which documents credible claims of torture allegedly inflicted by state security forces. The report, issued by A.M.I. Clinic, paints a disturbing picture of gross human rights violations, bringing the prosecution’s case into serious question.

According to the Istanbul Protocol Medical Report, Etheridge, 40, and co-defendants were subjected to repeated beatings, psychological abuse, and inhumane treatment while in government custody. The evaluation, conducted on September 16, 2025, was performed by Dr. Philip Zochners Ireland, a respected Liberian medical expert with affiliations including:

Dr. Ireland’s report confirms that the defendant sustained severe beatings with handcuffs, resulting in neck injuries, blunt trauma to the right eye, and enduring psychological trauma

Etheridge and Co-Defendants alleges these abuses occurred approximately nine months ago, after he was apprehended by government agents and held in prolonged detention without charge, a clear violation of both national law and Liberia’s international human rights commitments.

Legal and Constitutional Crisis

Legal experts are now warning that the use of evidence obtained under torture would render the case legally void, referencing Article 21(h) of the Liberian Constitution and numerous Supreme Court precedents which state that “Any confession made under duress, coercion, or without full rights being explained to the accused is inadmissible.”

Defense attorneys argue that the state’s conduct undermines the integrity of the trial, and that all subsequent proceedings should be halted until an independent inquiry is conducted.

“This is no longer just a criminal matter; it is a human rights emergency,” said a member of the defence counsel. “The report confirms our client was tortured while in state custody. No justice system worth its name can proceed under such conditions.”

The report’s use of the Istanbul Protocol, a UN-endorsed manual for investigating torture, signals international implications. Civil society groups have already begun preparing complaints to the UN Human Rights Committee and ECOWAS Court of Justice.

“This is a red flag for Liberia’s justice system,” said a representative from a local rights group. “Liberia cannot claim to uphold rule of law while allowing torture-tainted prosecutions to proceed.”

With the medical report now in the public domain, the burden has shifted to the prosecution to prove that its case is not tainted by unlawful conduct. As Liberia watches closely, many are asking: Can justice truly be served when built on the back of brutality?

Conclusion of Medical Report Strengthens Defense’s Case

In the closing portion of the medical report submitted to the court, Dr. Philip Zochnis Ireland a highly regarded Liberian physician acknowledged the constraints under which the examination was conducted, including:

The passage of time between the alleged torture and medical evaluation, possibly affecting physical evidence. 

The revocation of consent by the patient for certain sensitive examinations. – Diagnostic limitations within the current Liberian medical context.

Despite these, Dr. Ireland affirmed that he endeavoured to provide a thorough, impartial, and professionally grounded assessment. He formally submitted the report “into the custody of the Honourable Court,” expressing hope it would aid in “the dispensation of justice.”

“I am confident that under your wise leadership, guided by the rule of law, justice shall be rendered in a manner befitting both the dignity of the Court and the rights of the complainants.”

The signed report by Dr. Ireland, who also serves as Assistant Professor at the University of Liberia and Medical Director at A.M.I. Expeditionary Healthcare, has added serious weight to the defendant’s claim of torture and could serve as a pivotal piece of evidence in court.

As pressure mounts on the judiciary to act decisively, Liberians and human rights observers now await the next move will the court uphold human dignity, or turn a blind eye to brutality disguised as justice?

1: Documented image from the Istanbul Protocol Medical Report shows visible shoulder deformity consistent with blunt force trauma. The injury, observed during clinical examination, supports the patient’s claims of severe beating while in custody. Psychological evaluation further noted heightened anxiety and symptoms consistent with acute trauma and possible PTSD.