Ssebutinde, Lawyer Clash

By Hillary Nsambu A defence lawyer on Wednesday withdrew from a murder case, after disagreeing with the trial judge, Justice Julia Ssebutinde.Ssebutinde, who is conducting a criminal session in Kampala had earlier threatened to throw out the lawyer, Maxim Mutabingwa. She said Mutabingwa was unnecessarily disturbing the proceedings of the case and had shown a bad attitude towards her.“I am going to throw you out of this case. You cannot keep on disturbing court proceedings with unnecessary arguments, after I have made my ruling on a point,” Ssebutinde told Mutabingwa.Mutabingwa, who was representing Lieutenant Patrick Kandole, facing murder charges was angry and said, “I am quitting the case.” Mutabingwa wanted to cross-examine a medical doctor on his earlier evidence in the case.“Do you want me to review my ruling? I am not prepared to do so. You can cross-examine the witness on the evidence he has given now,” Ssebutinde said.Ends