William Ruto lawyers query claim by witness

What you need to know:

  • The witness claimed that the prosecution prepared a written statement for him.
  • Mr Ruto’s lawyer David Hooper told the court that his team did not share the allegation by the witness.

Lawyers for Deputy President William Ruto and radio presenter Joshua arap Sang on Monday denied claims by a witness that the prosecution prepared a written statement for him.

The lawyers told The Hague-based court that they did not agree that the statement capturing the witness’ earlier testimony was prepared by ICC investigators he met in 2012.

Mr Ruto’s lawyer David Hooper told the court that his team did not share the allegation by the witness.

Mr Sang’s lawyer Katwa Kigen urged the court to record their disagreement.

DO NOT AGREE

“The defence team for Mr Sang shares the same view with Mr Ruto’s team that we do not agree with the witness’ statement that the prosecution investigators composed his statement as he alleged,” Mr Kigen said.

Prosecution lawyer Anton Steynberg, however, asked the court to take into consideration the recanted statement by the witness who completed his testimony last Friday.

“We submit that this chamber takes into account the allegation made against the office of the prosecutor. The chamber should take into account the earlier statement by the witness,” My Steynberg said.

Presiding judge Chile Eboe-Osuji asked him if the prosecution was submitting that the recanted statement was the correct one, to which the lawyer replied in the affirmative.

The 24th witness in Mr Ruto and Sang’s trial began giving evidence on Monday.

He is the third to give his testimony from a secret location in Nairobi through video link.