Daughter Alerts Police to Home Suicide, Witness Testifies in Katanga Trial

The trial of Molly Katanga resumed on Tuesday with testimony from Police Witness No. 2, ASP Musede Samuel, attached to Jinja Road Police Division and overseeing community policing in Bugolobi.

ASP Musede recounted receiving a call on November 2, 2023, at around 7:50 am from Patricia Kakwanza, informing him of a suicide by shooting at her home. "I was in Mukono and assured her I would arrive soon," he stated. Upon arrival, he was guided to the scene by a person later identified as Amanyire, the chef. Patricia directed ASP Musede to the room where the deceased lay.

Describing the scene, ASP Musede noted finding a pistol, a spent cartridge, a live bullet, and significant blood in the room. The body, he observed, lay on a new mattress, meticulously cleaned and bound with gauze on the legs.

When asked about the deceased, Patricia identified him as her father. ASP Musede learned that Molly Katanga, the accused, was not present during the incident. He halted efforts to clean the room upon arrival, notifying his superior, ASP Peter Ogwang, who confirmed awareness through Dr. Otai.

ASP Musede clarified that he knew Patricia Kakwanza, Otai Charles, and Amanyire through his community policing duties but had no prior acquaintance with the deceased.

Under cross-examination, defense counsel MacDosman Kabega questioned ASP Musede's account, challenging whether Patricia had identified the deceased as her father or indicated Molly's absence during the incident. ASP Musede maintained the accuracy of his testimony.

In subsequent testimony, ASP Musede admitted to responding to the scene despite not being a trained Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) and acknowledged discrepancies between his court testimony and police statement, attributing them to omissions rather than inaccuracies.

Earlier in the trial, police doctor Julius Muhwezi testified, disavowing a Police Form 24 presented as evidence, alleging tampering with its contents.

The trial, overseen by Justice Isaac Muwata in the High Court Criminal Division, involves Molly Katanga, Patricia Kankwanzi, Martha Nkwanzi, George Amanyire, and nursing officer Charles Otai, charged in connection with the death on November 2, 2023.

https://missuperior.com/2024/07/daughter-alerts-police-to-home-suicide-witness-testifies-in-katanga-trial/