DRC: verdict expected in the case of the assassination of UN experts

Zaida Catalan and Michael Sharp, UN experts murdered in the DRC.

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Verdict expected in the case of the murder of the Swedish Zaida Catalan and the American Michael Sharp, United Nations experts killed in Kasaï central on March 12, 2017).

54 people are being prosecuted, including 32 under arrest and 22 on the run in this trial, which began in June 2017. And it is a very severe indictment against members of the Kamuina Nsapu militia that has been requested by the public prosecutor.

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With our correspondent in Kinshasa,

The prosecution did not go into detail.

For General Cyprien Muwawu, 51 defendants should be sentenced to death.

Among them, a colonel: Jean de Dieu Mambweni Lutete prosecuted for association of criminals, violations of instructions and misappropriation of seized objects.

According to the prosecution, Colonel Mambweni provided the Kamwina Nsapu insurgents with hunting ammunition.

These were taken during seizures by the security services.

But, in their pleadings, the defense lawyers rejected all the charges brought against their clients.

The offenses never existed, it is pure invention, according to these lawyers.

A magistrate from the military prosecutor's office was also implicated by the defendants.

This magistrate would have encouraged them to indict Colonel Mambweni.

The defense asked for the pure and simple acquittal of all the defendants.

The verdict of the Superior Military Court of the former Kasaï Occidental must be pronounced during the day in Kananga.

►Also read: Assassination of UN experts in the DRC: three years of chaotic proceedings

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