The appeal hearing in the case of Dieudonne Ishimwe, also known as Prince Kid, was on Friday, March 31, adjourned by the High Court in Nyamirambo, to April 28. Ishimwe is the chief executive of Rwanda Inspiration Backup, the organization responsible for organizing the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant. The court will proceed with the hearing of both the prosecution and defense sides. The appeal was lodged by prosecution following his acquittal by the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court late last year. Also Read: Miss Rwanda organiser acquitted Ishimwe earlier faced three charges - soliciting or offering sexual favours, harassment, and rape. Clad in a black suit and white shirt, Ishimwe attended his hearing accompanied by his three lawyers, Emeline Nyembo, Ngabo Kayijuka, and Vedaste Bahati. The prosecution was represented by two prosecutors. The prosecutor Roselyne Ninahazwa explained the basis of the prosecution's appeal, which consisted of six reasons. Some of the reasons were that the lower court judge disregarded some evidence and misinterpreted the nature of the crime on rape charges. Additionally, the judge was accused of ignoring some testimonies of both witnesses and victims along with considering doubtable evidence, among other reasons. Also Read: Prince Kid’s appeal trial pushed to March 31 Ninahazwe also requested the higher court to examine part of the evidence that was ignored by the lower court including the conversation between Ishimwe and one of the victims recorded as well as text messages between them. Prosecution is of the view that it could have shed new light on the case and potentially changed the outcome. Also Read: ‘Prince Kid’s’ bail hearing heard in camera Explaining the basis, she disclosed that during the previous trial, one of the victims submitted a letter contradicting her previous testimony. Furthermore, she noted, the judges misunderstood the nature of the rape accusation. She clarified that the judge had construed it in the context of physical force, whereas the prosecution and victims had intended to convey the perpetrator's exploitation of their vulnerability and the fear they experienced due to his authority. Ishimwe pleaded not guilty to all charges, arguing that the case was a set up. He maintained that he never raped either of the two suspects and had not harassed any of the Miss Rwanda contestants. Ishimwe repeated that he had been framed, pointing out that some witnesses were asked what measures could be taken to address issues in the Miss Rwanda contest and some of them suggested that “the solution is to dismiss Ishimwe from organizing Miss Rwanda and give it to other people.” Lawyer Ngabo pointed out that the witness who testified in the case was the same person who filed the case instead of the actual victims. He further explained that this fact was linked to the planned arrest of Ishimwe and had other merits as well. Due to time constraints, the presiding judge decided to adjourn the trial and resume proceedings on April 28.
