High Court dismisses Mpinganjira’s application to adjourn his case

The High Court has dismissed Thom Mpinganjira’s application to adjourn the judge bribery case because the presiding judge, Dorothy Degabrielle, is not physically in the courtroom in Blantyre.

The judge is hearing the case through video conferencing as she is in Lilongwe.

Mpinganjira’s lawyer Patrice Nkhono argues that there is no law warranting video conferencing in criminal cases.

He also argues that there was no prior publicity on the fact that the hearing today would be heard from the commercial court premises in Blantyre Central Business District and not the usual principal registry in Chichiri.

The judge however says the principle of fair trial entails that accused persons be tried within the reasonable time, saying she will not entertain any more unnecessary delays.

Justice Degabrielle notes that Justice Mike Tembo, who is the state’s first witness, also has his own cases to attend to.

Meanwhile, state witness Justice Mike Tembo is back on the stand, commenting on the transcript of his conversation with Mpinganjira as transcribed by the defense.

Source:Times