State witness in pine car bond murder case turns hostile
Further in his testimony, Mr Wasaka who is the 24th prosecution witness, told court that later in the evening, he received a call from an unknown person who told him that the men he had stopped from beating up Katushabe, had resumed their actions. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Court adjourned the matter to July 17 for further hearing.
- Prosecution contends that the accused persons and others still at large, on October 21 at Pine car bond, Lumumba Avenue in Kampala, killed Katusabe and robbed her of her mobile phone valued at Shs300, 000 and immediately or after the said robbery, used a panga and sticks to harm her which caused her death.
KAMPALA- There was drama at High Court in Kampala on Thursday as a state witness in pine car bond murder case turned hostile against the prosecution side.
Mr Hamidu Wasaka, who allegedly witnessed the beating of the late Betty Donah Katusabe to death, was brought by the prosecution to testify against the suspects, but he unexpectedly testified in favour of the key suspect Muhammed Ssebuwufu.
“On the fateful day October 21, 2015, I did not find Ssebuwufu at the car bond when I went to rescue the woman who was being beaten. At the scene I found the woman looking distressed and depressed with cuffs on her hands. I asked a one Damage Kiwa, who was leading two tormentors to remove the cuffs or I would go report to Police,” Mr Wasaka told court.
“They removed the cuffs from the lady’s hands, she was seated in a chair outside in a tent. Kiwa and his men told me the woman was a thief who took two cars for their boss (Kiwa), my response was they should wait for Ssebuwufu to help them resolve the issue,” he added.
“Ssebuwufu was not the proprietor of Pine car bond that name was general, that place was accommodating cars for many dealers. I as well recall Ssebuwufu was using one of his cars as an office. So his clients would seat in that car as he drafted agreements for them, he had no independent room as an office at that place,” Mr Wasaka said.
Further in his testimony, Mr Wasaka who is the 24th prosecution witness, told court that later in the evening, he received a call from an unknown person who told him that the men he had stopped from beating up Katushabe, had resumed their actions.
The state prosecutor, Mr Alex Ojok on seeing that Mr Wasaka’s testimony was conflicting with what he had said in his police statement, asked the trial Judge Flavia Anglin Senoga to declare him a hostile witness.
“This witness’ evidence is not in conformity with his police statement. I pray that court declares him a hostile witness and his testimony be expunged from the court record,” Mr Ojok sought the court’s attention.
He continued: “In his statement, he claimed that he found the deceased in Ssebuwufu’s office but, now he is asserting that he found her in a tent outside.”
But Mr Wasaka retorted and assured the court that he was speaking only the truth.
Justice Senoga declined to expunge the testimony of Mr Wasaka from record by asserting that he will need to compare it well with the police statement which was made when the his mind was still fresh.
Court adjourned the matter to July 17 for further hearing.
Prosecution contends that the accused persons and others still at large, on October 21 at Pine car bond, Lumumba Avenue in Kampala, killed Katusabe and robbed her of her mobile phone valued at Shs300, 000 and immediately or after the said robbery, used a panga and sticks to harm her which caused her death.
