admin
Court Reporter
A Harare magistrate yesterday expressed concern over the slow progress in the trial of former Big Brother winner Wendall Parson and his brother William, who are facing charges of fraud involving more than US$20 000 in car insurance scam. Mr Elijah Makomo, who is presiding over the case, said the trial was progressing at a slow pace because both the State and the defence documentary evidence was not in order.
“We are being pulled back on progress today because of these issues. When documents are photocopied they are supposed to be certified, it’s a hard and fast rule,” said Mr Makomo.
“State, you should not take things for granted anticipating that the defence will not object,” he said.
The confusion between the defence and State started last week when Mr Nkomo produced a document which he said William was forced to sign under duress.
The document was a letter purportedly written by William indicating that he had loaned Mr Weber Sithole a sum of US$2 500. State witness Mr Sithole disowned the document as forged and the State objected to the production of the document as evidence.
Prosecutor Ms Constance Ngombengombe indicated that she was not aware of the existence of such documents and did not give it to the defence counsel.
However, yesterday, while leading evidence from a third State witness Armour Khan Insurance Brokers (Pvt.) director Mr Armour Khan, Ms Ngombengombe produced some cover notes which Mr Nkomo objected to saying he had not been furnished with these.
But Mr Makomo overruled the objection citing that the cover notes were produced before in court.
State proceeded to produce another set of cover notes for February 20. Mr Nkomo objected again to the production of the cover notes indicating that he was not given a copy and they were not original copies.
State then requested that documents be compared to verify which ones the parties possess so that the matter could progress. Trial was postponed to October 2 after State led evidence for Mr Khan. Allegations are that on March 16 this year, William was involved in an accident while driving Wendall’s car, a Ford Ranger.
The accident was reported at Borrowdale Police Station and it is alleged that at that time the vehicle was not insured.
It is alleged that Wendall then connived with his brother and hatched a plan to defraud Alliance Insurance Pvt Ltd.
Online Reporter