A State witness against former President Robert Mugabe’s son in-in-law, Simbarashe Chikore, on charges of unlawful detention, has written to the prosecutors declining to testify against the later.
Philipa Philips who is a lawyer said that she has a professional relationship with Chikore and therefore cannot testify against him, as this would be a breach of legal ethics.
Said, Philips:
We have a lawyer client-relationship so I can’t testify against him.
Philips’s refusal to testify has resulted in the case being postponed to March 8 for trial continuation.
The presiding magistrate Victoria Mashamba warned the State that the case could crumble if it fails to bring another witness next time. Said Mashamba:
The state should put its house in order. If a witness who is lined up to testify fails to come, he/she will be issued with an arrest warrant.
All witnesses should be subpoenaed on time because this has to be finalised.