Monrovia, Sept. 8 -- The criminal case against former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has taken another major turn, with her lawyers abandoning a preliminary examination of the evidence after the court declined to grant the defense access to materials it said were necessary to meaningfully challenge the State's case.

By Willie N. Tokpah, willie.tokpah@frontpageafricaonline.com

The decision, taken Monday at the Monrovia City Court, clears the way for prosecutors to pursue the next stage of the proceedings, including a possible grand jury indictment.

Magistrate L. Ben Barco granted the defense request to withdraw the preliminary examination and instructed the Clerk of Court to communicate the development to the appropriate criminal co...