Present during the appeal hearing were the family members of the deceased Maggie Mutesi who was the Pastor of the ‘Gates of heaven Ministries’ Church.
Mugisha, a retired military officer, is being represented by three lawyers.
On March 21 this year, Nyarugenge Intermediate Court sentenced Mugisha to life imprisonment after convicting him of the crime of the murder of Pastor Maggie who was his wife.
Mugisha pleaded guilty of the murder of his wife who died on September 10, 2017.
The autopsy report proved that Pastor Maggie had no illness, was found with injuries on the left back head with blood in the brain, two wounds on the head, ribs broken and two visible wounds on the throat.
Her throat was almost cut with her left-rib broken.
The court ruled that Mugisha pays a fine of Rwf1 million to the family of the deceased and Rwf20 million to her brother.
One of the lawyers who represented Mugisha in court today said in the first hearing, witnesses gave contradicting testimonies where some said the deceased arrived at the hospital when still alive while others say “she died while still at home.”
The lawyer said Doctor Tumwine who carried out the autopsy gave two different reports.
He asked for all the witnesses to be recalled during the appeal hearing.
The lawyer representing the victim’s side said “If they can’t reveal what they want from the witnesses, the judgment should be done in a close house.”
Court asked the appellant to write to the court giving valid reasons for recalling witnesses to court.
The prosecutor said he sees no problem in bringing back the witnesses but there is no valid reason for them to come back to court.
Which law do the applicants base on to call back the witnesses in court?
Defense lawyers said that based on the gravity of the case, they should be given a month to peruse the files and submit their cause.
Court decided that not later than October 17 this year, lawyers representing Mugisha should have submitted to court the valid reasons why witnesses should be recalled. The court will decide on whether the witnesses will be brought back to court on November 8, 2018.
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