Court in Democratic Republic of Congo sentences 30 to death for murder of Laurent Kabila

Published January 8th, 2003 - 03:00 GMT

A military court in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Tuesday sentenced a former high-level army official, Colonel Eddy Kapend, and 29 others to death for the murder two years ago of President Laurent Kabila.

Kapend, who headed Kabila's personal guard when the head of state was fatally shot on January 16, 2001, became a key figure in the trial, which began in March.

The chief prosecutor in the Court of Military Order (COM), Colonel Charles Alamba, who presented the assassination as part of a complex plot, in October called on the court to pass death sentences on 115 of the 135 defendants.

After reading out Tuesday's verdicts, COM president General Nawele Bakongo said the matter was not closed and "there will be other trials because other suspects are being sought".

There is no appeal against COM judgements, however lawyer Pierre Mpelekwa told AFP that the sentences can’t be carried out without the approval of President Joseph Kabila, son of the slain leader. (Albawaba.com)