Court finds four defendants in gang rape and sodomy case to have a case to answer
What you need to know:
- The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to charges of gang rape and sodomy when first brought to court on August 19, have been in custody since August 20 as hearings continue.
Dodoma. The Dodoma Resident Magistrate’s Court has ruled that all four defendants accused of gang rape and sodomy against a young woman from Yombo Dovya, Dar es Salaam, have a case to answer.
The decision was made on Monday, September 23, 2024, before Senior Resident Magistrate Zabibu Mpangule.
The four defendants—TPDF member Clinton Damas (alias Nyundo), Prison Officer Praygod Mushi, Nickson Jackson, and Amin Lema—will now present their defense on September 25 and 26, following the prosecution’s presentation of 12 exhibits and testimony from 18 witnesses.
Speaking outside the court, defense lawyer Godfrey Wasonga said the defendants are ready to testify under oath and will bring 10 witnesses and six exhibits to support their defense.
Addressing the viral video that circulated on social media, Wasonga argued that the video evidence presented in court differs from social media claims.
"The video shown in court was on a DVD and failed to play properly. It doesn't clearly identify anyone or show who is performing any acts," he said, dismissing the claim that the suspects' phones were used to record the footage.
Wasonga emphasized that the number of prosecution witnesses is irrelevant in a criminal case like this.
"A conviction depends on the quality of evidence, not the number of witnesses. Issues like identification and the legality of the arrest are also crucial," he added.
The defendants, who pleaded not guilty to charges of gang rape and sodomy when first brought to court on August 19, have been in custody since August 20 as hearings continue.
