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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Zimbabwe court acquits PM's ally | Zimbabwe court acquits PM's ally |
| (20 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 a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party. | Mr Bennett is a senior member of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party. |
| The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that its alleged link of Mr Bennett to a convicted arms dealer was genuine. | The judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove that its alleged link of Mr Bennett to a convicted arms dealer was 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. |
| The MDC had always said the charges were politically motivated and insisted that he be sworn in as deputy agriculture minister but Mr Mugabe refused, saying the courts should first finish the case. | |
| Mr Bennett was already free on bail. | Mr Bennett was already free on bail. |
| 'Good triumphs' | 'Good triumphs' |
| Speaking outside the court in Harare, he told the BBC he was happy to be acquitted and now had the time and strength to move on. | Speaking outside the court in Harare, he told the BBC he was happy to be acquitted and now had the time and strength to move on. |
| "Good has triumphed over evil," he said. | "Good has triumphed over evil," he said. |
| The white farmer is a leading member of Mr Tsvangirai's MDC (Movement for Democratic Change). | The white farmer is a leading member of Mr Tsvangirai's MDC (Movement for Democratic Change). |
| He was to have taken a position as deputy minister for agriculture in the government when he was arrested in February 2009. | He was to have taken a position as deputy minister for agriculture in the government when he was arrested in February 2009. |
| ROY BENNETT 2000: Elected MP2004: Jailed after pushing minister in parliament2006: Accused of plot to kill President Mugabe2006: Fled to South Africa2009: Nominated as deputy agriculture minister; arrestedMay 2010: Acquitted of plot charges Profile: Zimbabwe's political farmer | |
| "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. | "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." | "The accused is accordingly found not guilty." |
| He said that the prosecutors' key evidence - an alleged confession from arms dealer Peter Hitschmann - was inadmissible. | He said that the prosecutors' key evidence - an alleged confession from arms dealer Peter Hitschmann - was inadmissible. |
| In earlier testimony to the court, Mr Hitschmann had said evidence he gave allegedly showing links to Mr Bennett had been extracted under torture. | In earlier testimony to the court, Mr Hitschmann had said evidence he gave allegedly showing links to Mr Bennett had been extracted under torture. |
| Judge Bhunu also said prosecutors had not proved that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to Mr Hitschmann were genuine. | Judge Bhunu also said prosecutors had not proved that e-mails allegedly linking Mr Bennett to Mr 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. | Mr Bennett's supporters, including the prime minister, had said the charges were politically motivated and aimed at undermining the coalition government. |
| A spokesman for the MDC has said the party will push for Mr Bennett to take up his ministerial position immediately. | A spokesman for the MDC has said the party will push for Mr Bennett to take up his ministerial position immediately. |
| Although the case was a major cause of tension in the power-sharing administration formed in 2009, several other problems remain, such as nominations to key positions and accusations of continued persecution of MDC activists. | |
| Last week, Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai put on a rare show of unity to appeal for investors to return to the country. |