News / National
Trial of MDC-T members fails to kick-off
12 Mar 2012 at 10:12hrs | Views
The trial of the 29 MDC-T members who are facing murder and public violence charges failed to kicked off today at the High Court after the defence lawyers said they needed time to file the defence outlines and apply for fresh bail.
The matter is before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu and the 29 members are facing charges of murdering a police officer in Glen View, Harare in May last year.
However, Justice Bhunu said he will hear the fresh bail application by the MDC-T members on Thursday after the defence lawyers had submitted their bail papers to him.
They were indicted on 01 March for trial and remanded again in prison. One of the lawyers representing the MDC-T members, Charles Kwaramba said the lawyers were failing to complete and file the defence outlines because the prison environment was not conducive.
"It is not easy for the lawyers to get instructions from the accused because the prison officers are within earshot instead of eyeshot as the prison regulations state," said Kwaramba.
He said the time allowed for interviewing the accused was at the discretion of prison officials making it difficult for the lawyers to fully get instructions from the MDC-T members.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people turned up in solidarity with the accused forcing court officials to turn away some as Court A where the matter is being heard was packed to capacity.
Those accused for the murder charge and public violence charges are; Solomon Madzore, the MDC-T Youth Assembly chairperson, Last Maengahama, a National Executive Committee member, Councillor Oddrey Sydney Chirombe of Ward 33, Budiriro, Councillor, Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32, Glen View, Cynthia Manjoro, Lloyd Chitanda, Stanford Mangwiro and Tendai Chinyama.
The others are; Jefias Moyo, Abina Rutsito, Gabriel Shumba, Stephen Takaedzwa, Linda Madyamhanje, Tafadzwa Billiard, Simon Mudimu, Dube Zwelibanzi, Simon Mapanzure, Augustine Tengenyika and Gapara Nyamadzawo, Paul Rukanda, Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama, Kerina Dewa and Memory Ncube, Rebecca Mafukeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Phineas Nhatarikwa Standford Mangwiro.
The matter is before Justice Chinembiri Bhunu and the 29 members are facing charges of murdering a police officer in Glen View, Harare in May last year.
However, Justice Bhunu said he will hear the fresh bail application by the MDC-T members on Thursday after the defence lawyers had submitted their bail papers to him.
They were indicted on 01 March for trial and remanded again in prison. One of the lawyers representing the MDC-T members, Charles Kwaramba said the lawyers were failing to complete and file the defence outlines because the prison environment was not conducive.
"It is not easy for the lawyers to get instructions from the accused because the prison officers are within earshot instead of eyeshot as the prison regulations state," said Kwaramba.
He said the time allowed for interviewing the accused was at the discretion of prison officials making it difficult for the lawyers to fully get instructions from the MDC-T members.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people turned up in solidarity with the accused forcing court officials to turn away some as Court A where the matter is being heard was packed to capacity.
Those accused for the murder charge and public violence charges are; Solomon Madzore, the MDC-T Youth Assembly chairperson, Last Maengahama, a National Executive Committee member, Councillor Oddrey Sydney Chirombe of Ward 33, Budiriro, Councillor, Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32, Glen View, Cynthia Manjoro, Lloyd Chitanda, Stanford Mangwiro and Tendai Chinyama.
The others are; Jefias Moyo, Abina Rutsito, Gabriel Shumba, Stephen Takaedzwa, Linda Madyamhanje, Tafadzwa Billiard, Simon Mudimu, Dube Zwelibanzi, Simon Mapanzure, Augustine Tengenyika and Gapara Nyamadzawo, Paul Rukanda, Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama, Kerina Dewa and Memory Ncube, Rebecca Mafukeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Phineas Nhatarikwa Standford Mangwiro.
Source - Byo24News
