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Bombo shooting suspect denied bail
Pte Okot Odoch consults his Lawyer, Capt. Nasser Moses Drago, at a General Court Martial sitting at Bombo Health Centre yesterday. Pte Okot was denied bail. PHOTO BY DAN WANDERA.
In Summary
The military court says the suspect may escape just like he had done after allegedly committing the crime.
BOMBO
The military court has dismissed a bail application lodged by lawyers representing Pte Patrick Okot Odoch, who is accused of shooting dead 10 people in Bombo in March.
Pte Odoch also allegedly wounded at least two others in a bar with an AK-47, before fleeing. He was arrested in Oyam District 10 days later and charged with murder and attempted murder.
Brig. Fred Tolit, the chairperson of the court martial, yesterday ruled out granting the suspect bail, saying the accused failed to present surities, has no fixed place of residence in Bombo and the circumstances under which he was arrested while trying to flee to Congo to avoid arrest, warrant no bail.
The court also ruled that Pte Okot is strong and youthful with ability to withstand the conditions until matters before court are deliberated upon up to the end.
Court also noted that the soldier is capable of disappearing without trace in case he is granted bail.
Defence lawyers led by Capt. Nasser Moses Drago had submitted that the offences against their client were bailable, had a clean record of service in the UPDF except for the offences he is facing and had a constitutional right to apply for bail.
Court is today set to decide whether Pte Odoch has a case to answer or not basing on the evidence from the 25 witnesses who have testified before the military court.
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