Court fails to make ruling in case against three Westgate terror suspects yet again

For the fourth time, a court postponed judgment in the trial of three suspects accused of masterminding the 2013 Westgate Mall terror attack that left 67 people dead.

The verdict on whether the three are guilty of terror charges is expected Wednesday.

Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi has so far postponed the judgment four times, the latest last being Tuesday evening when he cited time constraints.

Ahead of the judgment, the Milimani law courts remained under tight security with officers drawn from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, regular police and the prison warders.

The magistrate was expected to read the judgment in an open court under a tent but suddenly changed his mind and decided to do it inside a courtroom, where he announced the postponement.

On his way to the courtroom from his chambers, a police officer carried the file for him. Magistrates are usually not accorded such treatment and security.

The courtroom was filled by a battery of journalists (both local and international), court orderlies, police and relatives of the accused persons.

Mr Andayi was scheduled to pass the judgment on Monday but he failed to do so on grounds that the same was not ready for delivery as some sections needed to be tied up.

He had postponed it again on September 18, when he said it was not ready due to the volume of work involved in the case that the prosecution adduced 145 witnesses.

Mohammed Ahmed Abdi, Hussein Mustafa and Liban Abdullahi are charged with 12 counts related to commission of a terrorist act, conspiracy to commit a terrorist act, giving support to a terrorist group, aiding a terrorist group and being in the country illegally.