Godi verdict out today
Feb 10, 2011
THE High Court in Mukono will today deliver a judgment on a murder case in which Arua Municipality MP Akbar Hussein Godi is accused of killing his wife, Rehema Caesar.
By Edward Anyoli and Pascal Kwesiga
THE High Court in Mukono will today deliver a judgment on a murder case in which Arua Municipality MP Akbar Hussein Godi is accused of killing his wife, Rehema Caesar.
Rehema was shot dead at Lukojja village in Mukono district on December 4, 2008.
MacDosman Kabega, the lawyer representing Godi, said: “I was hired to defend and I did my best as a lawyer. I leave the rest to court.â€
Assessors advised the court, presided over by Justice Lawrence Gidudu, to convict Godi, saying prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he killed his wife, a claim Godi denied.
A total of 30 prosecution witnesses, including Rehema’s two sisters, testified. Other key witnesses included Robinah Kirinya, a ballistics expert, and Justus Mike Ocom, a forensics expert.
Kirinya, in her testimony, told court that the two bullet cartridges found at the murder scene came from the pistol owned by the MP, while Ocom said the soil sample got from Godi’s shoes was similar to that at the murder scene.
But Godi, in his defence, denied ownership of the shoes and told court that he accounted for all the bullets to the Police.
In her final submission, senior principal state attorney Joan Kagezi said there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence to prove that Godi participated in the murder of his wife on December 4, 2008.
However, Kabega asked court to acquit his client, saying prosecution had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to prove that he committed the crime.
He added that some of the prosecution witnesses were liars and their evidence was based on speculation and suspicion.
THE High Court in Mukono will today deliver a judgment on a murder case in which Arua Municipality MP Akbar Hussein Godi is accused of killing his wife, Rehema Caesar.
Rehema was shot dead at Lukojja village in Mukono district on December 4, 2008.
MacDosman Kabega, the lawyer representing Godi, said: “I was hired to defend and I did my best as a lawyer. I leave the rest to court.â€
Assessors advised the court, presided over by Justice Lawrence Gidudu, to convict Godi, saying prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he killed his wife, a claim Godi denied.
A total of 30 prosecution witnesses, including Rehema’s two sisters, testified. Other key witnesses included Robinah Kirinya, a ballistics expert, and Justus Mike Ocom, a forensics expert.
Kirinya, in her testimony, told court that the two bullet cartridges found at the murder scene came from the pistol owned by the MP, while Ocom said the soil sample got from Godi’s shoes was similar to that at the murder scene.
But Godi, in his defence, denied ownership of the shoes and told court that he accounted for all the bullets to the Police.
In her final submission, senior principal state attorney Joan Kagezi said there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence to prove that Godi participated in the murder of his wife on December 4, 2008.
However, Kabega asked court to acquit his client, saying prosecution had failed to adduce sufficient evidence to prove that he committed the crime.
He added that some of the prosecution witnesses were liars and their evidence was based on speculation and suspicion.