Monrovia, Sept. 29 -- The Supreme Court of Liberia has ordered an immediate halt to proceedings in the high-profile Capitol Building arson trial involving former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa and several co-defendants.

The stay order was issued by Associate Justice Jamesetta H. Wolokolie, presiding in Chambers, in response to a defense petition for a writ of certiorari-asking the high court to review and overturn the ruling from the lower court.

On Wednesday, Criminal Court "A" Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie denied a defense motion to exclude prosecution evidence, prompting defense lawyers to seek Supreme Court intervention.

Judge Willie ruled that the admissibility and credibility of the evidence should be determined by the trial jur...