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FILE: Nigerian televangelist pastor, Timothy Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho in the High Court in Gqeberha.
The Gqeberha High Court in the Eastern Cape has dismissed the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)’s application for leave to appeal the acquittal of televangelist, Timothy Omotoso.
Omotoso and his co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho were found not guilty on charges of rape and human trafficking.
Judge Irma Schoeman says the state had failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. In her judgement, she was scathing about the conduct of the prosecutors handling the case, such as using a day out of the nine days allocated to cross-examine Omotoso.
The state argued in its application that Schoeman focused on how the trial was conducted, and not on the law and the evidence of witnesses.
In July, Schoeman dismissed the NPA’s application for clarification on the acquittal of Omotoso.
Judgment on NPA’s leave to appeal Omotoso acquittal
