The High Court in Nyamirambo will on Friday, September 15 resume the hearing in the case of Dieudonné Ishimwe, popularly known as Prince Kid.
Ishimwe, the chief executive of Rwanda Inspiration Back Up and the former organiser of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant, has been entangled in a legal battle since 2022 when he was arrested and charged with soliciting sexual favours, harassment, and rape.
In December last year, the intermediate court of Nyarugenge acquitted him due to insufficient evidence. However, the prosecution appealed.
The latest hearing was originally scheduled for July 14 but was pushed to September. The presiding judge explained that the adjournment was necessary to give the defence enough time to review and analyse a report from the Rwanda Forensic Laboratory concerning newly submitted audio evidence and its accompanying explanations.
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 analyse it before a verdict is delivered thoroughly,” the presiding judge said.
Ishimwe recently tied the knot with his long-term girlfriend, Elsa Iradukunda, who was crowned Miss Rwanda 2017.