Kinshasa - The Democratic Republic of Congo's former police chief, John Numbi, will not be required to appear at the appeal trial of the murder of a rights activist, the military high court said Tuesday.
Civilian plaintiffs are calling for Numbi to be investigated afresh after they claimed that a journalist has evidence incriminating the ex-police chief in Floribert Chebeya's killing.
Chebeya, the leader of the "Voix des Sans Voix" (Voice of the Voiceless) rights movement, was found dead in his car on June 1, 2010, aged 47, on the outskirts of Kinshasa. His wrists bore traces of handcuffs.
The day before he had a meeting at police headquarters.
The military court last year sentenced the main suspect, Colonel Daniel Mukalay, to death, as well as Milambwe and two other police officers who were tried in absentia.
On Tuesday, the court's president announced that it has "rejected the request" aimed at "finding the implication of division commissioner John Numbi".
He explained that the court needed to probe "the revelations ... relayed by journalist Thierry Michel ... before taking action requested" by the civilian plaintiffs.
An appeal of the case began in June, the plaintiffs arguing that Numbi should be the chief suspect in Chebeya's death.
Numbi, who has been suspended from duty, had testified during the murder trial that he never met with Chebeya. - Sapa-AFP
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