The trial into the assassination of host Martinez Zogo had its second hearing, Monday April 15, at the Yaoundé military court. A particularly popular hearing like the first, on March 25, and which was held in the presence of the 17 accused and their respective lawyers, who were only partially heard on the requests they had made at the opening of the trial.
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With our correspondent in Yaoundé, Polycarp Essomba
One of the requests was the broadcast on radio and television of the trial over the assassination of Martinez Zogo. The court, following the requisitions of the government commissioner, did not follow up, in the name of the non-compliance of such a device with Cameroonian law. The trial will nevertheless remain public, open to people who wish to come to court on hearing days.
The other request strongly supported by all defense lawyers was the right to have a copy of the entire investigation file. The court ruled: there will be no reproduction or transmission of all or part of the file, but only on-site consultation.
To protect against possible problems that such a measure could cause in the remainder of the procedure, the court and the various parties to the trial agreed on a date, that of April 29, to agree on the pace of passage of the various lawyers at the court registry. April 29 should also make it possible to agree on a better organization for more fluidity, while around forty lawyers are involved in this trial.
On April 15, the question of State responsibility in this procedure was also addressed. Most defense lawyers have, in fact, requested, given that two thirds of the accused are members of the secret services, that the State be held civilly responsible in this procedure.
The next hearing is set for May 6 with, on the program, the list of witnesses, as well as the opening of the debates on the merits.
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