The former president argues that the National Prosecuting Authority is so deeply compromised that it cannot lawfully lead evidence against him
Impugned prosecutor Billy Downer argues that even if the court agreed he was biased and removed him, this would still not spell an acquittal for Jacob Zuma
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Veteran prosecutor Billy Downer argues the former president is not entitled to recycle arguments dismissed by the high court as he seeks acquittal on arms-deal charges
A political trial within a trial is indicated after Zuma’s counsel’s raise the spectre of oral evidence in its move for the prosecutor’s removal and for charges to be dropped
The new counsel for the former president read part of his plea for the prosecutor’s removal and ultimately his acquittal out in court
The former president argues that if he succeeds in having Billy Downer removed as prosecutor, the charges should be dropped
The former president’s application to remove Billy Downer as prosecutor comes as he runs out of road in more than one legal battle
Judge Piet Koen orders a brief delay to give Zuma’s lawyer time to enter a plea that Downer has no authority to prosecute the matter
The long-running arms deal case is heading for further delays after Zuma’s attorney and senior counsel withdrew at the 11th hour
Eric Mabuza notified the high court and NPA of his decision just weeks before the former president goes on trial for corruption
The former president’s lawyers asked last week that he be excused from appearing in person, although no such arrangements were made for his snubbing of the Zondo commission
The former president’s bid for an October trial date seems set to fail
Former president says pre-trial correspondence is part of another plot
The high court wants more details about the nature of the illness preventing the former president from appearing on corruption charges
The prosecuting authority believes there is a strong case against the former president
Evidence released to the DA raises significant questions regarding the dropping of graft charges against President Jacob Zuma.
Jacob Zuma’s prosecutor, Billy Downer, is not a happy man. But he won’t be quitting any time soon, he tells Adriaan Basson.
William John Downer was brought up in suburban Pretoria. He excelled at public speaking, a skill that would stand him in good stead later in his life.
Prosecutors staged a surprise comeback this week in their battle with the National Prosecuting Authority’s chiefs over charges against Jacob Zuma.
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/ 4 September 2008
A Pietermaritzburg magistrate has launched a legal bid to block state prosecutor Billy Downer from taking part in the case against Jacob Zuma.
African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma’s court bid continues on Tuesday in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
The disbanding of the Scorpions will protect corrupt and criminal politicians from prosecution, the deputy director of Public Prosecutions warned on Thursday. The Directorate of Special Operations, also known as the Scorpions, would lose its ability to independently investigate government officials if it was incorporated into the police, said Billy Downer, SC.
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African National Congress president Jacob Zuma will not stand trial on August 4, instead he will be seeking to have the decision to charge him declared unlawful. The legal teams of Zuma and his co-accused met the National Prosecuting Authority and the KwaZulu-Natal Judge President Vuka Tshabalala on Thursday to finalise a court date.
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There is no statute determining exactly what provisions should be in a search warrant, the Constitutional Court heard on Tuesday as African National Congress president Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thint began a last-ditch bid to prevent key documents from being used against them.
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African National Congress president Jacob Zuma arrived at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday amid a heavy security presence and the sound of camera shutters as photographers attempted to shoot pictures. A heavy police presence was visible around the court buildings while journalists packed the press gallery trying to get a view of Zuma.
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/ 8 November 2007
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Thursday expressed its satisfaction after it won all its appeals in the Supreme Court of Appeal in its legal battle with African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma. ”It brings certainty and finality at least up to this point on the contested issues,” said NPA spokesperson Tlali Tlali.
Schabir Shaik, former financial adviser to Jacob Zuma, on Tuesday lost his final appeal against fraud and corruption charges and a 15-year prison sentence. Shaik’s appeal to bring new evidence was dismissed and the court ruled that his trial was not unfair.
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/ 14 September 2007
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African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Jacob Zuma may not intervene in the state’s plan to extend an investigation into him to the United Kingdom. Judge Willie van der Merwe ruled against an application brought by Zuma to intervene in the state’s request to obtain information from banks and lawyers.
The Supreme Court of Appeal on Wednesday reserved judgement in the dispute between Thint and the national director of public prosecutions over the seizure of documents from the French arms company. State counsel Wim Trengove argued before the Bloemfontein court for the necessity of the search warrants.
A director of French arms company Thint always cooperated with investigators probing alleged corruption and fraud in South Africa’s multibillion-rand arms deal, the Supreme Court of Appeal heard on Wednesday. ”Mr [Pierre] Moynot has at all times offered the investigating team his kind and affable cooperation,” said Thint lawyer Peter Hodes.