Billboard trial moved to Monday

Billboard

THE trial of two company directors accused of erecting an illegal billboard in Borrowdale, denigrating a property developing company has been moved to Monday.

The suspects Mark Strathen of Paragon Printers and Grant Russell of Fairclot Investments had challenged the facts of the charge they are facing but the court dismissed their application.

They are represented by Gwinyai Mharapara and Tafara Danana.

Harare Magistrate Sharon Rakafa dismissed the application saying issues they raised on their application for exception are triable issues.

In court on Thursday, the duo’s lawyer asked for a postponement and the case was moved to Monday.

The matter has been on roll since 2021 owing to several postponements.

State prosecutor Shambadzeni Fungura has accused the suspects of using delaying tactics to derail the trial.

It is the State’s case that on December 10, 2020, the accused persons erected a billboard with damaging information on WestProperties in a bid to tarnish its image.

It was alleged that Russell and Strathen caused false alarm to the public through the information which was written on the billboard.

The State alleges that the billboard erected by the two had contents which were likely to interfere with the ordinary comfort of the complainant’s clients.

The complainant made a report to the police leading to their arrest.

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