High Court adjourns Kizito Mihigo, co-accused trial

The High Court yesterday postponed the trial involving musician Kizito Mihigo, and three others in the case in which they are accused of a litany of charges, including creation of a criminal gang, among others. The other suspects are Cassien Ntamuhanga, a journalist with Amazing Grace Radio, Jean Paul Dukuzumuremyi, a demobilised soldier, and Agnes Nyibizi. Niyibizi’s lawyer Adrien Rususurutsa and Mihigo’s counsels Felix Musore and John Bigarama told court their clients were ready to have the case start in substance but their co-accused said they were not. Ntamuhanga and Dukuzumuremyi appeared in court without lawyers and said they needed defence before the trial could kick off. “I have tried to look for money to hire a lawyer but I have failed. I cannot find the money as long as I am detained,” Ntamuhanga told court. He added that he had not even got the indictment. Court asked him why he did not use ubudehe system to authenticate he is indigent and, therefore, be supported by the government but he said local leaders did not help him. “When I wrote to the cell executive secretary asking for a document proving my status as a needy, he said he did not want to meddle in my affairs,” he claimed. The judge gave the defendants until October 10, to get ready, read the indictments and get defence for those without lawyers. The quartet was arrested in April and at the time, police said they had worked collectively or individually to plot against the government. Dukuzumuremyi was arrested with a number of grenades which police said he had planned to detonate at different locations in the city. At the time, police said the accused had admitted to working with senior officials within the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) militia and Rwanda National Congress to carry out terror activities on the Rwandan territory.

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High Court adjourns Kizito Mihigo, co-accused trial