Jacob Zuma’s lawyers claim he will not receive fair trial
Zuma’s lawyers argue that the state is actually to blame for a decade-long pause in his trial
Former president Jacob Zuma’s lawyers say it’s irrelevant whether he is guilty of the corruption charges he is accused of, but rather whether, in light of the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA's) “irregular, unfair, unlawful and unconstitutional conduct”, he can still receive a fair trial. Zuma’s legal team last week filed his final arguments in his application for a permanent stay of his corruption prosecution — his last chance to stop his long-dormant trial from proceeding. “Zuma seeks this extraordinary remedy on account of the inordinate delay, trial prejudice and the flagrant abuse of power by the NPA ... the effect of which has been the violation of Zuma’s constitutional rights, in particular the right to a fair trial,” his lawyers state in court documents. While the NPA admits it was responsible for a 22-month delay in Zuma’s trial, Zuma’s lawyers argue that the state is actually to blame for a decade-long pause in his trial. Effectively, they argue, the NPA must be put ...
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