THE Zambian state has closed its case in the trial of 77 soldiers charged with treason over a coup attempt against President Frederick Chiluba in October 1997, defence lawyers said on Wednesday. “The state closed its case on Tuesday, and we are now trying to have some of the detainees released because some of them have never been mentioned in court,” said lawyer Sachika Sitwala. Two politicians charged along with the soldiers — Dean Mung’omba and Princess Nakatindi Wina — were freed last month when the judge found that the state had failed to link them to the coup bid. The prosecution called 109 witnesses during the trial, which opened on June 1 last year. The hearing will continue at a date yet to be announced.