BUKAVU, DRCongo, July 11, 2007 (AFP) - The trial of the alleged killers of a prominent radio journalist resumed in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday with the presentation of eight new suspects.
The six men and two women joined two existing suspects in the defendants' box at a military court in Bukavu in eastern DRCongo, as proceedings into the murder of Serge Maheshe restarted after a two-week break.
Among the newly accused are Serge Mohima and Alain Shamavu, friends of Maheshe who witnessed the killing in Bukavu on June 13. They are charged with conspiracy to commit murder after being named by two other suspects.
On Wednesday, their lawyers -- who have dismissed the charges as "unbelievable" -- demanded the two men be released pending the trial, but their request was rejected.
The other four new male suspects are accused of murder and of supporting an armed gang. One of the women is on trial for links to the alleged murderers, while the other is accused of selling cannabis to them.
Two servicemen are already on trial, having been arrested and charged the day after Maheshe, a 31-year-old journalist working for the UN-sponsored Okapi radio, was murdered.
They were among 19 people arrested that day as part of an investigation that has drawn criticism from rights groups for its speed and alleged lack of depth.
The trial has been adjourned several times, the last time to allow for more scientific evidence to be gathered.
On Wednesday, lawyers for the civilian suspects called for the trial to be carried out in a civilian court, saying the military trial was "incompetent", but received no immediate response.
