Trial date for Roy Bennet Set

MUTARE –The trial date for Senator Roy Bennet, the top MDC official, facing treason charges, has been set for October 13 this year.
Bennet, Deputy Agriculture Minister designate, is facing charges of attempting to assassinate President Mugabe four years ago. He dismisses the charges as politically motivated.
His bail conditions were also relaxed and will now have to report to the police once every two weeks instead of the previous conditions were he was supposed to report once every week.
His defence counsel led by Trust Maanda, a Mutare-based lawyer told the court should the state fail to proceed with the case on October 13 Bennet should be removed from remand.
State prosecutor, Michael Mugabe agreed saying he would make sure the trial commences on the given date.
“I want it to be put on record that on 13 October if the state is not ready Bennet will be removed from remand,” Maanda said in court on Wednesday.
Mugabe responded saying: “I will ensure that by 13 October the trial will proceed. If we are not ready the defence can go ahead and make an application to have him removed from remand.”
Magistrate Lucy Mungwari consented.
Bennet faces the death sentence if convicted. President Mugabe has refused to swear him into the inclusive government until the matter is finalized.