Dewani Judge Traverso cleared of misconduct

24 April 2015 - 19:15 By Ernest Mabuza

The Judicial Conduct Committee dismissed complaints by two bodies which had complained that there was “blatant bias” by Western Cape Deputy Judge President Jeanette Traverso in her handling of the murder trial of British businessman Shrien Dewani. The committee also had strong words for one of the organisations which racially attacked Traverso when it suggested she was influenced by her background as a South African who was Afrikaans speaking.Dewani was accused of the murder of his wife Anni‚ who was killed after a hijacking in Cape Town while the couple was on honeymoon in November 2010. He was found not guilty of the crime after the state led its case.The Justice4Anni Campaign alleged that Traverso was biased in favour of the defence during the court proceedings. The organisation also claimed Traverso interrupted the prosecutor when he presented oral submissions and that her conduct prejudiced the state in the presentation of its case.The Higher Education Transformation Network’s chairman Lucky Thekiso submitted that Traverso was wilfully negligent‚ incompetent and her conduct was unbecoming of her office as a judge.The network also claimed “Judge Traverso was predisposed towards showing hostility against the black prosecutor‚ who was up against the all Afrikaner defence team”.Judge Traverso filed a response to the allegations. Affidavits were also filed in her support‚ including one from Dewani’s counsel Francois van Zyl SC and two assessors who sat with Judge Traverso. They all refuted the allegations and accusations levelled at Judge Traverso. - The TimesIn its finding‚ the committee said the racial attacks on the person of Judge Traverso were unwarranted.The committee said the allegations were not substantiated by any facts and offend the spirit and purport and objects of the Bill of Rights.“Mr Thekiso has a right to express his opinion on the performance of judges‚ but this does not give him the right to insult a judge and make snide remarks which tend to undermine the respect and dignity to be accorded to the judiciary of this country‚” North West Judge President Monica Leeuw said in her decision. Judge president of the Free State Mahube Molemela concurred.-RDM News Wire..

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