Biti assault case: Second witness testifies

Tendai Biti

THE second State witness in the trial of Citizens Coalition for Change deputy president and lawyer, Tendai Biti who is accused of verbally assaulting local businesswoman Tatiana Aleshina, yesterday told the court that the incident left him “feeling sorry for the victim”.

Givemore Kasekete told court that Biti charged towards the complainant while shouting and pointing a finger at her at the Harare Magistrates Court in 2020.

"I thought he was going to physically assault the complainant judging by the way he was shouting and charging towards her," Kasekete told court.

"All the people who were in the corridor at that time paid attention as Biti was shouting on top of his voice and pointing at her.”

Kasekete told the court that Micheal Van Blerk stood between Biti and Aleshina to stop the former Finance minister from assaulting the complainant.

"When I saw Biti aggressively charging towards Mrs Aleshina, I thought he was going to hit her before Van Blerk intercepted him," he said.

Magistrate Vongai Guwuriro deferred the matter to May 16 for continuation, with Van Blerk expected to take to the witness stand.

A doctor from Borrowdale Trauma Centre was also expected to testify yesterday after the defence and the State had consented to have her testify on the documents supplied to court as exhibits.

But when the doctor took to the stand, Biti's lawyer Alec Muchadehama objected to her testimony.

Prosecutor Michael Reza opposed Muchadehama's objection. The magistrate Guwuriro then asked the State to record the doctor's statement before she could testify.

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