KAMPALA – Justice Stephen Mubiru of the High Court has ruled that the negotiations over plea bargain cannot stop the trial of businessman Mathew Kanyamunyu who is accused of murdering activist Kenneth Watmon Akena.
According to Justice Mubiru, the hearing of the case has gone into advanced stages and cannot be halted.
“Bargains have nothing to do with me at this stage and the case has advanced so much,” he said on Tuesday.
He made the remarks after Kanyamunyu’s lawyers led by Caleb Alaka asked for an adjournment of the case as they discuss with the Director of Public Prosecutions over the plea bargain system.
Another defence lawyer, MacDosman Kabega also told court that the application they have filed has two things which include; plea bargain and traditional process which Kanyamunyu underwent with the family of the victim.
But the judge said a plea bargain is never a reason for stopping atrial.
He however told them that in case they have come up with an alternative, he will welcome it.
“For the meanwhile, you can be given time and prepare for cross-examination,” he asserted.
He adjourned the case to November 6 for further hearing.
Kanyamunyu is in negotiations with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) seeking to embrace the plea bargain process in the murder case against him over the death of children rights activist Kenneth Akena.
According to the DPP’s letter dated October 21, in response to Kanyamunyu’s earlier request for plea bargain, the chief government prosecutor gave him a nod to discuss the issue.
The prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on November 12, 2016 along Kampala-Jinja Road opposite Malik car bond with malice aforethought caused the death of Akena.
So far, 13 witnesses had testified in the matter including Robinah Kirinya, a principal analyst from the Government Analytical Laboratory (GAL), who told court that gunshot residues were found on Kanyamunyu’s clothes.