The defence team in the High Court hearing of the Christopher Okello Onyum, the prime suspect in the murder of four toddlers at Ggaba Early Childhood Development Centre, has closed it’s defence after it failed to trace the two defence witness to appear before court.
Richard Kumbuga, the lead defence lawyer told court that the witnesses phone numbers were unreachable and their addresses were not provided by Okello.
“My lord, the matter today is for defence witnesses, I’ve been informed by the process server, that the intended witness to appear today in court, he couldn’t be found, and the affidavit is on court record” he said.
Kumbuga noted that the same position was discussed with Okello and agreed to close the defence case since the witnesses couldn’t be located to appear before the court.
Justice Alice Komuhangi Khaukha, has adjourned the hearing to give time to the prosecution and defence to present their concluding submissions before judgment is scheduled.
On Thursday last week, Justice Komuhangi put Okello on stand after the prosecution closed its case against him.
While beginning his defence on Friday, Okello gave in an unsworn testimony and told court that the act was not intentional, he is a person of good moral character and was distressed at the time of the incident.
“There were factors that were forcing me. I did not do those things willingly…I am a person of generally good moral character, hardworking, focused and resourceful. I had a bright future, people to look after and a business in the making. I could not do such a thing” Okello told court.
Okello is charged with four counts of murder, contrary to section 171 and 172 of the penal code act, cap 128.
Prosecution told court that Okello on the second day of April this year at Ggaba Early Childhood Development centre, Ggaba trading zone, Ggaba parish, Makindye Division Kampala district, with malice aforethought unlawfully caused deaths of Eteku Gideon, Keisha Agenoroth, Sseruynage Ignatius, and Odeke Rayan.
