Beatrice Mtetwa’s trial postponed

 

accused of compiling “dockets” against Government officials.
She was arrested for trying to block the arrest of the four.

The trial which was scheduled for yesterday, however, did to commence after Mtetwa through her lawyer Mr Harrison Nkomo told the court that she was engaged in another court as defence counsel.

Presiding magistrate Mr Tendai Mahwe postponed the matter to June 8 for trial commencement after Mtetwa unsuccessfully applied to have the matter postponed to August.

While addressing the court in her application, Mtetwa requested to have the matter postponed to a date in August.

She said she was ready for trial but could not proceed due to circumstances beyond her control adding that she was not postponing the matter willingly.

She said if it was not for High Court matters which she had to attend to as defence counsel for the months of June and July, she would not have applied for a delay arguing that it would inconvenience regional trial observers and her relatives and friends from abroad who had come for the week-long trial.

Read More…

She said that for the months of June and July she would be occupied by High Court matters.
“Your worship the entire months of June and July are already taken up with cases at the High court. I can only be free in August.

“To avoid a situation of clash of matters, I propose that this trial be held during the High Court vacation so that High Court matters will not be disturbed. Therefore, I suggest a week in August,” she told the court.

The State led by Mr Tawanda Zvekare, Mr Michael Mugabe and Ms Purity Chikangaise opposed to have the matter postponed to August and suggested that it be remanded to June.

Mr Zvekare said: “Your worship this case was supposed to commence today for the whole week but I understand the accused is supposed to be appearing in another court for trial as defence counsel.

“That trial is now on and I am realibly informed that the presiding magistrate in that matter has ordered that it should be given precedence over this new matter,” he said.

The State proposed a date in June for trial commencement but Mtetwa argued that it was impossible.
However, after hearing submissions from both counsels, Mr Mahwe postponed the matter to June 8 arguing that there will be no High Court matters on Saturday.

Related Posts

AI must impact communities: Minister Mavetera

Ray Bande in Nyanga Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be employed to solve problems faced by citizens in their everyday lives for it to be relevant and beneficial to the country,…

National drug and substance abuse taskforce tours Marondera rehab centre

Victor Maphosa Mashonaland East Bureau National Taskforce on drug and substance abuse today toured the Marondera drug and substance abuse rehabilitation centre to assess the level of response the province…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

×