Hopewell Chin’ono is expected back in court today as he continues to fight to be freed on bail. He will make a fresh bail application beca...
Hopewell Chin’ono is expected back in court today as he
continues to fight to be freed on bail. He will make a fresh bail application because
of changed circumstances.
He is insisting that Chikurubi is a death hole because of
Covid-19. Hopewell, through his lawyer Ms Beatrice Mtetwa, wanted to make the
application last week but Harare regional magistrate Mr Ngoni Nduna ordered him
to return to court today for his fresh bail bid.
The State led by Mr Michael Reza had indicated that it was
ready to hear his application and respond on a later date. The High Court threw
out his appeal for bail after noting that the trial magistrate’s decision was
properly arrived at when he initially dismissed his at the lower court.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi in his decision to deny Chin’ono
bail said: “In disposing of the matter, I determine that the appellant
(Chin’ono) has failed to demonstrate any misdirection of fact, law or both made
by the learned magistrate in the court a quo (lower court) as would justify
interference with his judgment.
“In consequence therefore, the order I make is as follows .
. .The appeal be and it is hereby dismissed. The attitude of the appellant was
therefore one of defiance of State authority on the basis of a claim of right.
In such circumstances the learned magistrate cannot be faulted in his
reasoning,” said justice Chitapi.
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