Post by CCADP on Aug 28, 2005 7:31:38 GMT -5
Criminal court in Guinea sends two to death row
Conakry, Guinea, 08/28 - The Court of Assizes of Conakry has pronounced the death sentence for Malick Conde, a diamond merchant of about 20 years and Cleophaste Lama, a 30-year detective police officer, in connection with the murder in 2000 of a gem merchant, Mohamed Toure, judicial affirmed here Saturday.
The verdict was reached lat Friday after public prosecutor, Yves Aboly ended his summary argument by requesting the death sentence for the two suspected murderers.
In their final statement, the defence counsel used strong arguments in a bid to save their clients.
Both men were standing trial before the Court of Assizes of Conakry, which opened on 17 August 2005.
While in the dock, the defendants accused each other of Mohamed Toure`s death, who was reportedly killed at in Malick`s bedroom.
Actually, Toure was apparently caught in an ambush by his colleague Malick Conde who had invited him in his bedroom to stab him to death.
After the crime, he called his accomplice, detective police agent Cleophaste Lama, who helped him cut the victim into pieces before putting him in a trunk that was then buried in Lama`s courtyard.
The public had been awaiting for years, the verdict of that appalling crime, which was at the outset, attributed to Malick Conde, who had previously killed his own father over a story of precious stones and threatened to kill his uncle for the same reasons.
In a separate development, public opinion is also waiting to see the conclusion of another case concerning the assassination of Lt. Loua Conde, the driver of Guinea`s First Lady, Henriette Conte.
Driver Conde was shot dead in broad daylight right in the centre of Conakry in 2003 as he was standing near his car. It is recalled that the assizes, which were suspended in 1995 due to "lack of financial resources and the constant posting of judicial staff", has resumed with 208 cases, including 36 murder trials, 27 for assassinations, 33 cases of assault and battery leading to death, and 50 cases of rape, on the docket.