ICTR/MUNYAKAZI - MUNYAKAZI'S DEFENCE COUNSEL SHOT DEAD IN DAR ES SALAAM

14.07.10 - ICTR/MUNYAKAZI - MUNYAKAZI'S DEFENCE COUNSEL SHOT DEAD IN DAR ES SALAAM

Arusha, July 14, 2010 (FH) - Tanzanian Professor Jwani Mwaikusa, lead defence counsel for Yusuf Munyakazi, who was sentenced to a 25-year term last month by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) was shot dead by unknown bandits alongside two other persons on Tuesday night at his Salasala resident in Dar es Salaam.  

‘'The Police force has already mounted a strong tracking team for the killers though we have not yet  managed to arrest any suspects,'' Police spokesperson, Advera Senso told Hirondelle News Agency in a telephone interview.

She narrated that Mwaikusa was gunned down as he was getting into his house at 10.30 pm by unknown assailants together with two other persons who showed up to assist him as he struggled for his life.

When his client, Rwandan businessman Munyakazi,75, was  sentenced to 25 years after being found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity (extermination), Mwaikusa had immediately, in consultation with his client, vowed to appeal against the verdict.

Professor Mwaikusa was a holder of doctor of philosophy degree (PHD) in law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He was the first defence counsel to lead a successful rejection of the Prosecutors motion to transfer the case of his client to be tried in Rwanda.   

NI/ER/GF

© Hirondelle News Agency