Dar es Salaam: Manslaughter suspect Lulu given a court bail

By Rosina John, Citizen Reporter.

Dar es Salaam. 

The High Court has finally granted bail to film actress Elizabeth Michael alias Lulu who was charged with manslaughter.

Lulu allegedly killed without intention a local movie star Steven Kanumba on April 7, 2012 at Sinza Vatican in the city.

However, the actress did not walk free yesterday due to the absence of the district registrar of the Dar es Salaam zone who was to ensure compliance of bail terms imposed by the court.

Judge Zainabu Muruke wanted Lulu to secure two sureties who are government employees to sign a bond of Sh20 million each.

The court ordered her to surrender all her travelling documents to the district registrar and she is barred from travelling outside Dar es Salaam Region without the registrar’s permission.

She is also required to report to the Registrar office first date of every month until completion of her criminal case. The ruling by Judge Muruke follows application by lawyers representing the actress who requested the court to grant bail to their client pending determination of her case.

According to the lawyers Peter Kibatala and Flugence Massawe, the offence that the accused is charged with is bailable and she has been in remand prison for more than seven months. The application was filed under section 148 (1)(2) of the criminal procedure Act that give the court jurisdiction to grant bail to an accused person who is charged with bailable offence.

They stated that, the applicant who is currently remanded at Segerea Prison, awaiting trial, stands charged with the offence of manslaughter in Criminal Session Case No. 125 of 2012 which is pending before the court.

That the committal proceedings in respect of the charge that were instituted in the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Kisutu were completed on December 21, 2012, and the presiding magistrate, Christine Mbando, committed the applicant to the High court for trial.

“It is my understanding as the applicant’s advocate that if admitted to bail, the applicant is willing and able to fulfill all bail conditions which this court may deem just to impose,” the lawyers stated.

According to Kibatala, he had ample opportunity to be acquainted with the applicant as well as her family and on that basis he knows for a fact that the applicant is a person of good character, reliable and is under the care of her parents who all are ready to ensure the fulfilment of the conditions and to ensure that she appears in court as and when required for the trial or for any other purpose.

Lulu, the lawyers further explained, is a public figure and resident of Dar es Salaam and hence within the environs for easy monitoring of the fulfilment of any bail conditions.

On their side, republic led by State Attorney Joseph Maugo and Kishenyi Talemwa did not objected to the application.

Source: The citizen (28/01/2013): http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/28424-manslaughter-suspect-lulu-given-a-court-bail