Borrowdale Billboard Case: Ruling Set for February 14 Amid Legal Maneuvers
A Harare magistrate has scheduled February 14 as the pivotal date for delivering a ruling on the application for refusal of further remand filed by two Borrowdale men.
Grant Russel of Fairclot Investments and Mark Strathen of Paragon Printing find themselves entangled in criminal nuisance charges over the alleged erection of an illegal billboard disparaging a local property development company.
The defendants, represented by lawyer Tendai Biti, submitted an application for refusal of remand, asserting the prospect of success in an application previously filed before the Supreme Court. Simultaneously, they contest a High Court order compelling them to proceed to trial, challenging the charge’s validity.
Having sought an exception to the charge at the lower court, citing defects that warranted quashing, their plea was dismissed by Harare magistrate Shane Kubonera.
Undeterred, the defendants escalated their legal battle by approaching the High Court for a review, only to face another directive to proceed to trial and defend themselves.
The State’s case revolves around events on December 10, 2020, where, at approximately 2 pm on the opposite side of Celebration Church in Borrowdale, Harare, the accused individuals allegedly erected a billboard containing damaging information about WestProperties.
The State contends that the billboard’s content had the potential to interfere with the ordinary comfort or convenience of the complainant’s clients.
Prompted by the complainant’s report, the police intervened, leading to the arrest of Russel and Strathen.
