|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
Violence, recrimination and arrests after policeman's death in Glen View - Index of articles
High Court dismisses bail application for the "Glenview 29"
Zimbabwe Human
Rights Association (ZimRights)
June 19, 2012
High Court
Judge, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu who presides over a case involving
"29 Glenview residents" accused
of murdering a police officer, Petros Mutedza today dismissed
the bail application for accused persons citing lack of special
circumstances satisfactory to the court.
In a winding
deliverance of the ruling, the judge took turns to praise and shame
differences between the calibers constituting the defense counsel.
He made a scathing attack on Charles Kwaramba (one of the defense
counsel) for alleged lack of professionalism while at the same time
praising the leading person for the team, Beatrice Mtetwa. Mr Kwaramba
was attacked for allegedly slamming the Court through a DailyNews
dated June 10 that quoted him saying the law is being applied unfairly.
The Judge described the move as adventures to gain public sympathy
after having failed to secure the release of his clients through
legal procedures. He added that the move and statements were disrespectful,
misinforming, reckless and flabby for a lawyer before he went on
to cite a number of cases which he said bring repute to the same
court. On the other hand, Mrs. Mutetwa was continuously praised
for alleged adherence to legal ethics.
Turning to the
real reason for the dismissal of the application, the judge said
that the entire defense outlines submitted do not meet conditions
specified by Section 117 (6) of the Criminal
Procedure and Evidence Act that provides for the bail release
of persons accused of murdering a law enforcement agent on duty.
He said the submissions do not justify the release of the accused
persons and as such they will have to remain behind bars. He added
that is what the law entails in such circumstance of which it is
not within their mandate to change the laws.
Despite the court having attempted to clear its name by making clarifications
on the differences between the Shamva case pitting police officers
who murdered a civilian and the case in point as well as bringing
in the prosecution of the Mudzi suspects, we remain tempted to align
to Mr. Kwaramba's take that the law is applied unfairly. We
believe that all persons are born equal as enshrined in the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights - hence the need for equal treatment.
Over a year has passed with the liberties of these civilians curtailed.
Visit the Zimbabwe
Human Rights Association (ZimRights) fact
sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
