Lawyers for six Zimbabwean activists convicted of conspiring to commit violence for watching videos of Arab uprisings say they are appealing their conviction and sentences.
Attorney Alec Muchadehama said on Monday he filed appeal papers arguing if the group did actually plot violence at their February 2011 meeting, as the court found, they should have been prosecuted for treason, a charge that carries a possible death sentence. The group says the court’s ruling is “misguided”.
Muchadehama says he is applying for $500 fines, suspended imprisonment and community service handed to the group to be set aside.
The court ruling was also based on evidence of a “dishonest witness” who lied about his true identity as a police officer when he infiltrated group, he said. — Sapa-AP