Zuma’s lawyers to seek dismissal of case

JOHANNESBURG – The rape trial of former South African deputy president Jacob Zuma was yesterday postponed until next week, with the defence planning to ask the court to clear the accused for lack of evidence.

Zuma, 63, once the frontrunner to succeed President Thabo Mbeki, is accused of raping a 31-year-old HIV-positive woman at his Johannesburg home but the defence says they had consensual sex. Judge Willem van der Merwe put off the case until March 27 to allow the defence to prepare its application for the “discharge of the accused”.”It’s unfortunate but we can’t do otherwise.We will then adjourn until Monday…”van der Merwe told the court.Defence lawyer Kemp J.Kemp will also ask the court to declare as inadmissible the testimony of two policemen, who said Zuma had lied about where the alleged rape took place.Kemp will bring an application under South Africa’s criminal laws, stating that “if, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence …it may return a verdict of not guilty”.The state closed its case yesterday after submitting a last piece of evidence – a radio interview with one of Zuma’s lawyers, in which he says “no incident” took place on November 2, the night of the alleged rape.- Nampa-AFPJudge Willem van der Merwe put off the case until March 27 to allow the defence to prepare its application for the “discharge of the accused”.”It’s unfortunate but we can’t do otherwise.We will then adjourn until Monday…”van der Merwe told the court.Defence lawyer Kemp J.Kemp will also ask the court to declare as inadmissible the testimony of two policemen, who said Zuma had lied about where the alleged rape took place.Kemp will bring an application under South Africa’s criminal laws, stating that “if, at the close of the case for the prosecution at any trial, the court is of the opinion that there is no evidence that the accused committed the offence …it may return a verdict of not guilty”.The state closed its case yesterday after submitting a last piece of evidence – a radio interview with one of Zuma’s lawyers, in which he says “no incident” took place on November 2, the night of the alleged rape.- Nampa-AFP