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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
The trial of two Borrowdale men who erected a billboard denouncing a property developing company has been postponed after their new lawyer dumped them.
Mark Strathen of Paragon Printers and Grant Russell of Fairclot Investments are facing criminal nuisance charges.
Their lawyer, Mr Gwinyai Mharapara who took over from Mr Tendai Biti also dumped the duo after his application for postponement was declined.
The lawyer had applied for a postponement to get a transcribed record so that he could get fully appraised of the matter before trial.
However, the State, led by Mrs Shambadzeni Fungura opposed the application saying the accused persons had asked for the transcript when they approached the High Court and Supreme Court.
She said the accused persons should give the transcript to their lawyer since they have it.
Mrs Fungura said she is ready for trial, adding that the witnesses have been coming to court religiously but they have been prejudiced by the postponements.
Magistrate Mrs Sharon Rakafa dismissed the two’s application saying the matter has been on the roll since 2021.
Mr Mharapara then renounced agency. The duo asked for a postponement of the matter indicating that they need to look for a new lawyer to represent them.
Mrs Rakafa postponed the matter to Monday for the commencement of trial.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed the accused person’s appeal and ordered the case to proceed to trial.
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