The matter had been scheduled to be heard at the High Court on Tuesday, with the defence team expected to apply for a discharge of the 29 activists after the state closed its case on March 11th.
However, lawyers for the accused said they have not had adequate time to analyse the ‘voluminous’ transcript of court proceedings and asked Justice Chinembiri Bhunu to postpone the hearing.
Defence lawyer Gift Mtisi told SW Radio Africa that his team will make a written discharge application on Friday and allow the prosecution, led by Edmore Nyazamba, another week to file its response.
Mtisi said: “When we meet in court on the 23rd April, we will be making oral submissions for the discharge of the 29 MDC-T supporters.
“The case has reached a critical stage and we asked for this postponement to enable us to thoroughly analyse every piece of evidence and ensure that those without a case to answer are acquitted and set free,” Mtisi added.
Since it started the trial has been subject to several deferments, with just the bail application for the 29 activists postponed more than 7 times, mainly to allow the state to build its case.
The 29 activists were arrested in May 2011 when a police detail, responding to reports of political disturbances in Harare’s Glen View area, was attacked resulting in the death of Inspector Petros Mutedza.
They have been on remand since then, with five of the accused still held in custody where they have been reportedly tortured and ill-treated.
The five – Last Maengahama, Tungamirai Madzokere, Simon Mapanzure, Yvonne Musarurwa and Rebecca Mafukeni – were deemed a flight risk and remanded in custody when their colleagues were bailed last year. All the 29 maintain their innocence, and accuse the state of holding them on trumped-up charges. – SW Radio Africa
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