The trial of 29 MDC-T activists accused of the murder of a senior Harare policeman, Inspector Petros Mutedza, in Glen View last May has been deferred to Thursday.
The trial was scheduled to kick off at the High Court yesterday, but High Court judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu postponed the matter after the activists’ lawyer Charles Kwaramba sought the court’s relief to enable him to prepare his clients’ defence and bail application.
On Thursday, the court is expected to rule on the date the trial would begin. Initially, the State had proposed that the trial starts on March 19, but Kwaramba opposed the application saying the date was too close.
He suggested that the trial be allowed to take place after three weeks.
“The defence outlines are not ready as there were several issues which have hampered the commencement of the trial,” said Kwaramba.
“There is a problem with the 19th of March because the challenges we have faced which have resulted in the matter not kicking off today still exist and one week is not enough. Three days before the trial the accused should provide the defence outlines with the list of the witnesses they wish to call for the trial and the evidence. After interviewing the accused the added dimension is that we have to interview witnesses who are to be called for the trial. It is only after this that the defence outline is prepared and brought to you. I suggest three weeks from today,” he said.
Kwaramba added: “The fact of incarceration is also a contributing factor. While they are in custody the environment in prisons there is not easy for the lawyers that are involved to operate because these accused are being interviewed whilst prison officials will be standing right there within earshot and not eyesight.”
Meanwhile, police maintained a heavy presence outside the courtroom due to the high-profile nature of the case.
