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Zimbabwe court acquits PM's ally | Zimbabwe court acquits PM's ally |
(31 minutes later) | |
A Zimbabwean court has acquitted a leading politician, Roy Bennett, on charges of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. | A Zimbabwean court has acquitted a leading politician, Roy Bennett, on charges of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. |
Mr Bennett is an aide to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. | Mr Bennett is an aide to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. |
The judge ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to an arms dealer were genuine. | The judge ruled that prosecutors had failed to prove that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to an arms dealer were genuine. |
The case had threatened to split the country's unity government of long-term rivals Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. | The case had threatened to split the country's unity government of long-term rivals Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai. |
Mr Bennett was already free on bail. | Mr Bennett was already free on bail. |
The white farmer is a leading member of Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). | |
He was to have taken a position as deputy minister for agriculture in the government when he was arrested in February 2009. | |
"Having carefully considered the facts, I come to the conclusion that the state has failed to prove a prima facie case," said Judge Chinembiri Bhunu. | |
"The accused is accordingly found not guilty." | |
He said that the prosecutors' key evidence - an alleged confession from an arms dealer - was inadmissable. | |
He also said prosecutors had not proved that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to convicted arms dealer Peter Hitschmann were genuine. | |
Mr Bennett's supporters, including the prime minister, had said the charges were politically motivated and aimed at undermining the coalition government. |