By Jimmy Muhumuza
Kampala
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has agreed to disclose all necessary documents related to the DNA expert report to the defense team representing Molly Katanga, the widow of slain businessman Henry Katanga.
The disclosure follows the defense team from Kampala Associated Advocates, led by Peter Kabatsi, expressing their unreadiness to cross-examine forensic expert Assistant Commissioner of Police Andrew Mubiru Kizimula on his DNA report until they have received all the items requested.
The DNA report, authored by Kizimula, who examined DNA samples collected from the late Katanga, his widow Molly, and the crime scene at the couple’s home on Chwa II Road in Mbuya, Nakawa Division, has been submitted and admitted into court records as a prosecution exhibit.
The court has also accepted as exhibits the samples collected by pathologists from the late Katanga’s body during the post-mortem but has rejected all other exhibits collected from the crime scene.
These rejected exhibits include blood samples, sticks, bed sheets, hospital linens, and all samples collected from the widow, Molly Katanga.
The court’s rejection of these exhibits is based on the defense team’s argument that the police officers who collected and documented them are the competent witnesses to testify about their origin and storage. Once this chain of custody is established, the prosecution can tender these exhibits.
For now, the said exhibits have been submitted to the court for identification purposes only, pending the testimony of the Scene of Crime Officers (SOCOs).
Meanwhile, the defense team has requested several documents, including the Standard Operating Laboratory Protocols used in testing DNA samples, report writing, dates of work, and data files.
The defense lawyers contend that the request for these documents was made in May, but they have not yet been provided.
According to the defense, these documents enable their team to effectively represent their client by comparing the DNA report with their own experts’ findings before cross-examining Kizimula.
Justice Muwata adjourned further hearings for ten days, until the 10th of September.
