The defence lawyers for the Editor-in-Chief of a Kinyarwanda tabloid, Umuvugizi, have requested the court to summon the principal parties in the case against their client.

The lawyers for Umuvugizi’s editor in chief, John Bosco Gasasira have requested court to summon; John Bosco Mutangana, Dianne Gashumba and Mutangana’s wife as witnesses in the case.

"We find it important to summon these people since they are subject in our debate, it would be good if they were here to answer some queries that emerge,” defence’s lead counsel Claudine Gasarabwe asked the court.

"The two stories that our client published were based on a story that was published in another local newspaper Rugari, he reported what had already been reported,” another defence lawyer Janvier Rwagatare interjected.

Defence lawyers intervened after John Bosco Gasasira the author of the alleged defamatory story had given his account.

Another defence lawyer Jean De Dieu Momo questioned why prosecutor Faustin Munyamahoro, who was earlier on transferred to Huye District, is still on the case.

Momo castigated the Prosecutor General for allowing Munyamahoro continue with the  case.

"It seems like some people have vested interest in this specific case if this prosecutor whom I have learnt has been transferred and has been authorised by the Prosecutor General to follow up this case,” Momo said.

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