adminZvikomborero Parafini
CHIEF Magistrate Faith Mushure yesterday granted Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri’s bid to be allowed 48 hours to go through the CCTV footage recorded on the day they allege they were abducted by the police.
The duo had been allowed a chance to visit the CID Cyber Unit to view the videos but returned to court claiming the time wasn’t enough to go through the videos
The State, led by Michael Reza, opposed the application for more time to view the footage, arguing there was no need to view the whole hour-long videos, as they were only interested in 30 minutes of each footage.
“For purposes of this trial, we are interested in times from 1645hrs to 1715hrs.
“It is that time we are saying that they should be allowed to go and view the remaining one video for the time mentioned and then we resume court at 1415hrs (yesterday).
“There is no reason why they want to view times, which are irrelevant to these proceedings.
“We said these are times of interest,” he said.
Reza added there was no need for Mamombe and Chimbiri’s lawyers to be worried about watching the whole videos, as they will be afforded the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses, who installed the CCTVs.
“It is the right of the accused to cross examine witnesses extensively and they will be given that opportunity.
“We will lead witnesses on times that they were at Belgravia,” he said.
Reza further accused Mamombe and Chimbiris lawyers of failing to approach the State in time to get the videos, knowingly that they wanted to view them.
Chief Magistrate Faith Mushure ruled in the duo’s favour and allowed them the time they requested to watch the footage.
The matter was remanded to June 29.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter