Lawyers for MDC Treasurer General Roy Bennett The treason trial against Bennett continued in the High Court on Thursday, with the continued cross examination of the states first witness, Police Superintendent James Makone. The trial had been postponed on Tuesday, midway through the cross-examination. The defences questioning meanwhile of the police official revealed several holes in the states already flimsy case, which has so far been based purely on hearsay.
The states witness admitted on Tuesday that several weapons being used as evidence against Bennett, and which have been on full display in court were not actually found at the home of Bennetts alleged accomplice, Peter Hitschmann. During questioning, Makone told the court that some of the arms that the state has as exhibits and claims were bought with money supplied by Bennett were not found at Hitschmanns house but were in fact found at the home of another man, an army major Israel Phiri from Masvingo city.
Hitschmann was jailed for illegally possessing six sub-machine guns, a pistol and two machineguns but the court threw out the more serious terrorism charges against him and also found that he had licences for most of the weapons. On Thursday, Bennetts lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa said the police in Bennetts case had added several other guns, anti-riot grenades, stun grenades and thousands of rounds of ammunition, whose origins could not be established and were never produced in Hitschmanns trial.
This is part of a police publicity stunt to whip up public sentiment and misrepresent facts to this court, said Mtetwa. The trial continues Friday.
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