Africa-Press – Mozambique. Eight years after musician Jaime Paulo Caminho (better known by his stage name “Max Love”) was shot dead in Quelimane, capital of the central Mozambican province of Zambezia, his killer is finally standing trial before the Zambezia Provincial Court.
The murder occurred on 21 November 2013, when a crowd had gathered outside the Zambezia governor’s palace, celebrating the victory of the opposition Mozambique Democratic Movement (MDM), and its mayoral candidate, Manuel de Araujo, in the Quelimane municipal elections held the previous month.
The man who opened fire on the crowd, killing Max Love, was Manuel Jose, a police officer, stationed to the unit charged with guarding high ranking figures. For eight years, Max Love’s family, supported by Quelimane municipal council, has been demanding justice.
According to a report in the independent newssheet “Carta de Mocambique”, the trial began on Wednesday, under judge Natercia Geronimo. But it is likely to be a short affair, since the current whereabouts of Manuel Jose are unknown.
Jose is thus being tried in absentia. Public prosecutor Domingos Julai said that an arrest warrant has been issued for Jose. He is being treated as a fugitive and, when he is caught, he will face additional civil and criminal proceedings.
On Wednesday the court heard from eye-witnesses, from some of Jose’s colleagues, and from the victim’s mother, Fatima Vasco. The prosecution is calling for the maximum prison sentence (which, in cases of first degree murder, is between 20 and 24 years), plus compensation for Fatima Vasco, who used to depend on her son for financial support.
The judge has set 9 November as the date for her verdict and sentence.
For More News And Analysis About Mozambique Follow Africa-Press
