Lilongwe, February, 21: Lawyer for Pika Manondo, one of the accused in the assassination attempt of former Malawi’s Budget Director, Paul Mphwiyo, has accused the media of misrepresenting the court proceedings in order to sell the papers.
Writing on the timeline of his facebook account, John Gift Mwakhawa said he had so far avoided commenting on the case; however he had felt a strong need to put his friends in the better picture on the proceedings.
Wrote Mwakhwawa,” I have so far avoided and will continue to avoid commenting on this case on my wall. However, I have felt a strong need to put my friends in the better picture on the proceedings and this is all I can say.”
He further wrote that people should not take what the media is reporting as the gospel truth.
“…please do not take what the newspapers write as gospel truth on how the case is going. The way the papers are reporting does not, to a large extent, represent what exactly the case is progressing.
“Clearly, the press has an ulterior motive which is to spice up the narratives and sell the papers. Be wary. And it’s unfortunate that such misreporting can extend to judicial proceedings,” he further wrote.
Commenting on the issue, Davis Njobvu, also a lawyer by profession wrote,” John Gift Mwakwhawa…You are better off not saying anything at all. You do your work in the Legal Court and let that Court perform its duty.”
However, Mwakhwawa replied,” I agree with you I think it’s right and proper for me to remind my “friends” about the dangers of following judicial proceedings through the press particularly Malawian which I have known since my age of knowledge.
“One of dangers is that due to misreporting, the accused persons in any trial may be convicted by the public court and yet be acquitted by the court which in turn may erode public confidence in the justice system….just among others.”
Pika Manondo, Raphael Kasambara, McDonald Kumwembe and others are being accused of attempting to murder the former budget director Paul Mphwiyo.
Mphwiyo was shot three times as he drove into his compound in the exclusive neighborhood of area 43 in Lilongwe on September 13, 2013.
