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2009-11-10 Africa Subsaharan

Torture claims postpone Tsvangirai aide trial

[Iran Press TV Latest] The trial of a senior aide to Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is postponed amid reports that some of the testimonies presented were extracted through torture.

Roy Bennett's trial, which started on Monday morning, was adjourned until Wednesday to give time to the Judge to review submissions from the state and defense attorneys.

While the state charges that Bennett's defense was not properly outlined, his defense attorneys want a witness to be withdrawn from the case.

Bennett's attorneys say they have evidence that the witness's testimony was extracted through torture.

Bennett's lawyers also said that weapons dealer Peter Michael Hitschmann, who is the main prosecution witness, was arrested and charged in 2006 but throughout his trial he did not implicate Bennett.

Roy Bennett is facing charges of terrorism, insurgency and sabotage. According to the judge, the court session is postponed to Wednesday.

Tsvangirai's party says the case is politically motivated and calls for an end to the trial. Bennett was to become deputy minister of agriculture, before being charged.

The case was one of several issues which led Tsvangirai to pull out of the coalition government he formed with President Robert Mugabe in February.

Posted by Fred 2009-11-10 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [130 views ] Top

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