Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Juliet Kigongo
Published on 2024-01-29 15:10:49
Lawyers representing four of the suspects in the murder case of Kampala businessman Henry Katanga expressed frustration over the delays in the bail application hearing for their clients. They complained about the state attorneys seeking continuous adjournments to frustrate their clients’ right to bail, leading to the 10th time the bail application has been frustrated.
The defense counsel reported the repeated adjournments in bad faith, accusing the DPP of deliberately keeping the accused persons in jail. They argued that the bail application had been served to the DPP on January 17, and there was no need for further adjournments.
Assistant DPP Samali Wakoli was unable to respond to the bail applications due to poor document quality, leading to the unreadable names and blurred pictures. She emphasized the need for clear bail documentation and proper verification in accordance with the bail guidelines.
The prosecution’s case involves the death of Henry Katanga on November 2, 2023, with his wife, Molly Katanga, charged with his murder, while two daughters face the destruction of evidence charges. Two other suspects, a medic, and a house help, are also accused of being accessories after the fact of murder.
The defense emphasized the need for bail, including a lactating mother among the co-accused, who gave birth just before the court process commenced and needs to care for her baby. Despite the accusations and counter-accusations, the court allowed the process of identifying sureties for the accused to continue.
The hearing will resume on February 12, with the judges away for the annual conference the following week. The defense and prosecution continue to clash over the bail application delays, highlighting the frustration and inefficiencies in the legal process for the murder case suspects.
