The High Court in Nyamirambo has postponed the hearing in the case of Dieudonne Ishimwe, popularly known as Prince Kid, to September 15. During a hearing held on Friday, July 14, the presiding judge said adjournment aimed to grant the defence sufficient time to assess and examine a report from the Rwanda Forensic Laboratory regarding a newly submitted audio evidence and its accompanying explanations. ALSO READ: Court adjourns verdict in Prince Kid's trial as new evidence surfaces During the previous session on June 30, it had been expected that the court would deliver its verdict. However, the court decided to reopen the trial to accommodate discussions around new evidence by the prosecution. The prosecution submitted new evidence in the form of an audio recording on June 23, and both parties will resume the trial to thoroughly analyse it before a verdict is delivered, the presiding judge said. ALSO READ: Prince Kid’s appeal verdict set for June 30 Ishimwe, the chief executive of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up and the former organizer of the Miss Rwanda Beauty Pageant, has been embroiled in a legal battle since 2022 when he was arrested and charged with soliciting sexual favours, harassment, and rape. In December 2022, the intermediate court of Nyarugenge acquitted him due to insufficient evidence. However, the prosecution lodged an appeal. The appeal, filed at the High Court, was based on several grounds, including argument that the intermediate court judges disregarded crucial evidence, such as witness testimonies and victims' statements. ALSO READ: Miss Rwanda organiser acquitted One of the pieces of evidence highlighted by the prosecution was a leaked audio recording of a conversation between Ishimwe and one of the Miss Rwanda pageant contestants.
