Magara witness gets death threats
May 24, 2009
A witnesses in the murder case against Ramadhan Magara, accused of killing two people when he shot at a crowd in Mengo in 2006, has received death threats.
By Charles Ariko
A witnesses in the murder case against Ramadhan Magara, accused of killing two people when he shot at a crowd in Mengo in 2006, has received death threats.
Principal State attorney Fred Waninda on Friday asked for the cancellation of Magara’s bail, saying he was interfering with witnesses.
“The witness informed the process server that he cannot come and testify for fear of his life,†Waninda told the court.
Waninda also rejected one of the witnesses, who had been summoned to testify against Magara, on the grounds that he found the witness talking to Magara before the trial started.
“My lord, I had summoned more witnesses, but this morning, I found one of them seated next to the accused. I have decided to ‘offer’ him to the defence,†Waninda told the court.
In response, Magara’s lawyer, Macdusman Kabega, said there was no evidence to show that his client had interfered with witnesses.
The presiding judge, Wilson Kwesiga, concurred with Kabega that there was no evidence to cause cancellation of Magara’s bail.
He advised the prosecution to re-apply for bail cancellation.
Earlier, Isaac Wekoyera, a police detective deployed to Bulange on the day of the shooting, told the court that Magara opened fire at the crowd killing two people.
Wekoyera told court that he knew Magara well, having worked with him many times while Magara was the head of local defence forces in Rubaga Division.
A witnesses in the murder case against Ramadhan Magara, accused of killing two people when he shot at a crowd in Mengo in 2006, has received death threats.
Principal State attorney Fred Waninda on Friday asked for the cancellation of Magara’s bail, saying he was interfering with witnesses.
“The witness informed the process server that he cannot come and testify for fear of his life,†Waninda told the court.
Waninda also rejected one of the witnesses, who had been summoned to testify against Magara, on the grounds that he found the witness talking to Magara before the trial started.
“My lord, I had summoned more witnesses, but this morning, I found one of them seated next to the accused. I have decided to ‘offer’ him to the defence,†Waninda told the court.
In response, Magara’s lawyer, Macdusman Kabega, said there was no evidence to show that his client had interfered with witnesses.
The presiding judge, Wilson Kwesiga, concurred with Kabega that there was no evidence to cause cancellation of Magara’s bail.
He advised the prosecution to re-apply for bail cancellation.
Earlier, Isaac Wekoyera, a police detective deployed to Bulange on the day of the shooting, told the court that Magara opened fire at the crowd killing two people.
Wekoyera told court that he knew Magara well, having worked with him many times while Magara was the head of local defence forces in Rubaga Division.