Akena murder: Lawyer wants journalists barred from covering case
L-R: Joseph Kanyamunyu, Cynthia Munwangari and Matthew Kanyamunyu
What you need to know:
- State Attorney Racheal Nabwire informed court that investigations into the case were still incomplete, seeking adjournment.
- Mr Grace Karuhanga the suspects' lawyer asked court to block journalists from attending court saying that they were "not organised in what they were doing
Kampala
The case in which businessman Matthew Kanyamunyu and his co-accused are facing murder charges, has been adjourned to December 20.
Mr Kanyamunyu, 39, was jointly charged with his girlfriend Cynthia Munangwari, and his elder brother Joseph Kanyamunyu, a public relations guru, last month.
The suspects appeared before Nakawa Magistrates Court for the mention of their case on Tuesday morning.
They are accused of killing child rights activist Kenneth Akena. Matthew Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend were arrested shortly after Akena was gunned around Lugogo, a city suburb, on last month.
Prosecution alleges that on November 12, this year, Matthew, Munwangari, Joseph and other accomplices still at large, while on Kampala- Jinja Road near Malik Car Bond, opposite Uganda Manufacturers Association offices, in Nakawa Division, “with malice aforethought caused the death of Kenneth Akena”.
The trio was charged with murder, an offence for which the maximum penalty is death. They, however, appeared very calm unlike the first time when they looked unfazed or at least masked it well.
State Attorney Racheal Nabwire informed court that investigations into the case were still incomplete, seeking adjournment.
The trial magistrate Noah Sajjabi further remanded the suspects to Luzira Maximum Security Prison until December 20, 2016 when they will reappear for mention of their case.
However the mention of their case, in a packed court Mr Grace Karuhanga the suspects' lawyer asked court to block journalists from attending court saying that they were "not organised in what they were doing."
“ Your worship I am concerned to the manner in which journalists are behaving in court to the extent that some have stepped at the bar and some were telling me to even sit down,” Mr Karuhanga told court adding that “It is their right to take pictures but in an orderly way.”
Although the magistrate agreed with the lawyer’s submissions and asked the journalists to step out of the witness dock where they were packed, he refused to block them and other court users from attending court.
“I cannot block anyone from attending court, this is a temple of justice, however journalists should do their work in an orderly way,” Mr Sajjabi ruled.
