News / National
Mnangagwa ally's Grace Mugabe insult trial fails to kick-off
05 Jan 2016 at 17:34hrs | Views
The trial of Gokwe-Nembudziya member of the National Assembly, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, who is being accused of criminally insulting the First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, failed to kick off this Tuesday afternoon after the defence counsel applied for refusal of further remand.
Wadyajena (35) was arrested in Victoria Falls soon after the 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People's Conference for allegedly denigrating the First Lady and appeared in court on charges of criminal insult.
He was later released on US$800 bail.
According to his lawyer, Mr Givemore Muvhiringi, the section that his client was charged on, Section 95(1a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, implying that the accused has no criminal case to answer.
The defence counsel also made an application to allow the accused to be absent from the court when the ruling on the application for refusal of further remand is made on Tuesday next week.
The application was however dismissed and the accused will be expected to appear in court for the ruling.
Wadyajena (35) was arrested in Victoria Falls soon after the 15th Zanu-PF Annual National People's Conference for allegedly denigrating the First Lady and appeared in court on charges of criminal insult.
He was later released on US$800 bail.
According to his lawyer, Mr Givemore Muvhiringi, the section that his client was charged on, Section 95(1a) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act, was declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court, implying that the accused has no criminal case to answer.
The defence counsel also made an application to allow the accused to be absent from the court when the ruling on the application for refusal of further remand is made on Tuesday next week.
The application was however dismissed and the accused will be expected to appear in court for the ruling.
Source - zbc
