Tendai Rupapa Court Reporter
THE trial of the owner and crew members of the boat that capsized killing 11 children in Lake Chivero last year was yesterday stalled after the defence sought further postponement to a later date. The

defence said it was not ready and needed more time to prepare. Lawyers representing owner of Chasura Boats Latif Ameer (53) and crew members Fadil Ramon Weale (27), Enock Yolani Zulu (36) and Joseph Abrahams (37) who are facing 11 counts of culpable homicide wanted the trial deferred to end of May or June. The State led by Mr Michael Reza proposed to have the trial begin on April 26.
After hearing arguments from both the defence and State the court set the trial date as May 3. The defence had argued they could not start the trial yesterday since they were furnished with State papers last week on Friday.
Mr Hamios Mukonoweshuro is representing Ameer and Weale while Mr Jacob Jogee is appearing for Zulu and Abrahams.
Mr Reza then proposed April 26 as the new trial date but the defence team said the date was unacceptable and maintained they will be ready end of May or June. Mr Mukonoweshuro told the court that he was going to the United Kingdom and will not be available on April 26.
Mr Jogee also said the fact that the State took three months to investigate the case meant the defence should also be allowed equal time. He said he needed time to be with his children who will be on school holiday in April. Mr Reza disagreed with the defence and argued that any date other than April 26 was completely unacceptable to the State. He argued that five of the eight State witnesses were school children who will be free during school holidays.
“If the trial is held end of May or June as requested by the defence, five of the witnesses will not testify because they will be at school and the State’s case will collapse like a deck of cards and if that happens, the court of public opinion will judge us harshly. The court, the State and the defence collectively will all wear the cap of madness, it will fit,” he said.