JJ’s Ya-Na Tape Is Inconclusive And Inadmissible In Court – Attorney-General

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Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam) Japheth Kazenga 27 April 2011 DAR ES SALAAM eleven cricketers laid their hands on the trophy in the inaugural Regional U-17 tournament following a three-wicket victory over Uluguru Stars in the final played at the Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) venue in Morogoro earlier this week. The Dar es Salaam youngsters' triumph underlined the region's dominance in domestic cricket stretched to almost all other Tanzania Cricket Association (TCA)-sanctioned competitions. They won the toss and opted to field, putting their opponent in to bat first but the latter failed to make full use of the innings despite playing at the familiar pitch.

The Attorney General has debunked assertion he has in his possession video evidence which would lead to a successful prosecution of persons accused to have murdered the late over lord of Dagbon Ya-Na Yakubu Andani.

Martin Amidu told Joy New the so–called video evidence is inconclusive and cannot be admissible in a competent court of law.

Aide to the Rawlingses, Kofi Adams is accusing government of doing very little to bring the alleged killers of the Ya-Na to book.

He told delegates and some supporters of the NDC in Tamale, where Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings had gone to campaign, that Mr. Rawlings had handed over a video evidence of the killing of the over lord to government and the Attorney General to help in the prosecution of the perpetrators.

Adams is convinced that with the video evidence and a thorough investigation, government should be able to secure justice but doubted if the Mills administration is competent enough to do it.

But the Attorney General has described the assertions as false.

According to him the so-called video evidence in the possession of the Attorney General is an interview session between Victor Smith and one claiming to be a cousin of the Ya-Na.

“So if there is any tape in the possession of my office it is a tape of an interview between Victor Smith and this gentle man. It is not a tape of what happened on the precise day and time which will give a clue to somebody doing something or saying something or not.

“It is a tape of something narrated to Victor by someone who claims to be there. That tape cannot be direct evidence in a court of law.

“It is a narration long after the event. It is different from the type of tape in law we say was made contemporaneously with the event,” he explained.

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