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Briton prevents court entourage visit at farm
2006-05-24 09:41:25
By Jackson Kimambo, PST, Moshi
The Moshi Resident Magistrate’s Court in Kilimanjaro Region yesterday was barred from visiting the Silverdale Farm in Hai District after a UK national, Stewart Middleton, prevented the Magistrate and other people in her company to enter the farm.
Earlier, the High Court of Tanzania, Kilimanjaro Zone, had instructed the Moshi Resident Magistrate’s Court to visit the 500-hectare farm so as to verify claims by Mrs Millie Benjamin Mengi that the Briton had buried 32 cows and 11 goats that had died under mysterious circumstances without the consent of the former, who is the owner.
Resident Magistrate Aziza Temu who had travelled to the farm in a vehicle with registration number STJ 1858 in the company of Benjamin Mengi told reporters that the guard at the farm refused to open the gate for her even after being told that she was visiting the farm by order of the High Court.
The guard who was identified only as Mariseli told the Magistrate that Stewart had given him precise instructions not to allow Benjamin Mengi who had accompanied the Magistrate to enter the farm.
Following the situation, the Magistrate and her entourage had to leave and the court would give its decision on the matter today (Wednesday).
The owner of the dead cows and goats, Millie Benjamin Mengi has requested the court to order that the carcasses be exhumed to allow veterinary doctors to examine them and determine the cause of their deaths.
She has also asked the court to order Stewart to allow veterinary doctors into the farm so as to diagnose the remaining livestock and treat them accordingly before they die.
Mrs Mengi has also asked the court to order Stewart to pay all cost of the case.
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