William Ruto, Joshua arap Sang trial on a 2-week break
What you need to know:
- In Friday’s proceedings, Mr Ruto’s defence questioned the credibility of Witness 423’s testimony that explosives and guns were used in Eldoret
- Defence lawyer Essa Faal sought to discredit the claims that Nandi attackers had explosives and guns
The trial of Deputy President William Ruto and former radio presenter Joshua arap Sang will resume on November 21, after adjourning on Friday.
However, Mr Ruto will not be in the courtroom on the said date after the chamber granted him excusal, as his presence would be required in Kenya when President Kenyatta attends the 3rd African-Arab summit in Kuwait.
“Our decision is that we will resume on November 21 with the hope of completing the testimony of the two witnesses by November 29,” presiding judge Chile Eboe-Osuji who read out the brief ruling said.
The prosecution will choose among witnesses 469, 535 and Prof Herve Marpeu, the expert witness who is expected to give a historical background of the conflict between the Kalenjin and the Kikuyu in the Rift Valley.
“As for the excusal request, the chamber would grant the request for November 21. Reasons will follow later,” the judge said.
The 3rd African-Arab summit takes place in Kuwait from November 18 to 20. The defence counsel David Hooper had requested for excusal of Mr Ruto on November 21 to enable President Kenyatta return to the country.
COURT PROCEEDINGS
In Friday’s proceedings, Mr Ruto’s defence questioned the credibility of Witness 423’s testimony that explosives and guns were used in Eldoret during the 2007/08 post-poll chaos.
Defence lawyer Essa Faal sought to discredit the claims that Nandi attackers had explosives and guns.
Mr Faal also maintained that the violence was spontaneous and not premeditated as claimed by the witness, besides discrediting the witness’ testimony that one of those killed had been disembowelled.
“If a person is disembowelled that would show in the death certificate because that is too dramatic. All we want to demonstrate is that person number 10 was indeed not disembowelled,” said Mr Faal.
He added that person number 10 had died of cardiovascular and respiratory problems and multiple cuts to the head.
However, the witness was not allowed to respond to the queries with the Chamber saying only an expert could speak to that.
