Kabale, Uganda | The Blak Examiner – The Kabale High Court convened within Kisoro District has underscored the urgency for the prosecution to diligently ready itself for the plea-taking process in relation to the case involving six suspects implicated in the brutal killing of Indian businessman Patel Kuntaj, aged 24.
Emphasizing the critical nature of this requirement, the court has cautioned that failure to adhere could result in the dismissal of the case due to potential compromise of justice.
Scheduled for the 14th of August 2023, this legal proceeding falls under the jurisdiction of the Kabale High Court.
It is reported that Patel Kuntaj met a tragic end, allegedly being fatally shot in broad daylight on October 27th, 2022. The accused party in this case is Corporal Gumizamo Elioda, identified by badge number 72401, who was a serving police officer within Kisoro municipality.
Presented before the high court were six individuals linked to the incident: Hatel Patel, an individual of Indian origin; Gumizamo Elioda; Nteziyaremye Bernard; Nyabagabo Gard; Charles Nteziyaremye; and Ntibakunze Godfrey, also known as Kafero. They are facing charges encompassing murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Grace Nabagala Ntenge, the lead prosecutor, raised concerns about the safety of witnesses who were set to testify from Kisoro district, the location of the case’s origin. Ntenge informed the court that the prosecution had secured the involvement of three civilian witnesses and multiple police officers engaged in the investigation. Some of these individuals had allegedly encountered threats and expressed trepidation about providing testimony.
Ntenge also indicated that essential discussions pertaining to pertinent documents had not yet occurred with the defense lawyers.
On the opposing side, the defense team, comprising Ngaruye Ruhindi, Nabasa Rodgers, and Urban Namanya, contested the prosecution’s delays. They argued that the repeated rescheduling of proceedings was impinging on the defendants’ rights to a prompt and unbiased trial. The defense questioned the rationale behind postponing the plea-taking process despite the completion of investigations.
In response, the resident Judge of the Kabale High Court circuit, Hon. Justice Samuel Emokor, acknowledged the efforts undertaken by both the prosecution and defense to safeguard their clients’ interests. Expressing reservations about the prosecution’s recurring lack of preparedness and propensity to request additional time, Justice Emokor nonetheless decreed that the case would advance within the Kabale district on August 14th of the current year, marking the ultimate adjournment.
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