2024-03-25 17:50:30
17 accused, 30 lawyers: A first marathon hearing which sets the stage
This is an extraordinary trial which opened this Monday March 25, 2024 at the Yaoundé military court. As reported live by 237online.com, your reference judicial information site, the first hearing in the Martinez Zogo case, this journalist brutally murdered more than a year ago, kept all its promises. Full house, palpable tensions, shocking revelations… A look back at a marathon day which lays the groundwork for a trial which promises to be historic.
A crowded room, hundreds of curious people gathered outside
First observation upon arriving at court: the immense wait aroused by this trial. As soon as the doors opened, a large crowd gathered in the courtroom, occupying every square inch, from floor to ceiling. Benches, aisles, corners… Everything was packed. And for those who were unable to enter, they followed the debates from outside, in their hundreds, with their ears glued to the walls or their eyes glued to their smartphones. A record attendance, which testifies to the shock wave caused by the assassination of Martinez Zogo in Cameroonian society.
17 accused, 30 lawyers: A trial within a trial
Another striking figure: that of the actors in this long trial. No less than 17 accused, including prominent figures such as the former director of the DGRE Maxime Eko Eko and businessman Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, appeared before the court. Facing them, a veritable battalion of lawyers: 30 in all, including some big names in the bar like Me Charles Tchoungang or Me Calvin Job. A balance of power which announces epic oratorical jousts, and which makes this trial a true “trial within a trial”, where each word, each comma of the procedures will be hotly debated.
The shadow of political pressures, the state represented or not?
From the first minutes, the political tensions surrounding this explosive issue were brought into the courtroom. When Mr. Assira appeared to defend the interests of the State, he was immediately challenged by the defense, who raised procedural flaws. A twist of theater which forced the president of the court to clearly ask the question: who represents the State in this trial? An incident revealing the immense pressures weighing on this affair, where each actor seems to be moving on eggshells.
Shocking requests: Live broadcast, full copy of the file…
Another highlight: the requests made by the defense lawyers. Me Tchoungang, in the lead, did not pull any punches. Giant screens, live broadcast on national television, recording for the archives… He called for maximum transparency, arguing for the “passion” of Cameroonians for this affair. Above all, he demanded the communication of the entire investigation file to the lawyers, a sine qua non condition, according to him, for a fair trial. Explosive requests, which promise heated debates in the next hearings.
A first day to lay the groundwork, see you on April 15
After more than 4 hours of an intense hearing, this first day ended with a postponement until April 15. A period of time necessary for the court to rule on the parties’ requests and set the framework for future debates. But beyond questions of procedure, a real standoff has ensued. On one side, defense lawyers determined to obtain a transparent and fair trial. On the other, a court under pressure, torn between the demands of justice and the weight of politics.
237online.com, your window open to the courtrooms, will follow every twist and turn of this extraordinary trial for you. With a promise: to provide you with reliable, precise and impartial information, to allow you to decipher the issues of this affair which touches the heart of our democracy. Because beyond the fate of the accused, it is the thirst for truth and justice of an entire people which is expressed in this court. A thirst that we are committed to quenching, by seeking information where it is found, without taboo or complacency.