Key witness in Bennett case that strained Zimbabwe’s coalition government says he was tortured

Witness in Zimbabwean trial claims torture

HARARE, Zimbabwe — The prosecution’s key witness in the Zimbabwe trial that has strained the country’s coalition government took the stand Thursday, saying he was tortured into falsely implicating the prime minister’s aide on trial.

Weapons dealer Peter Michael Hitschmann says that he implicated Movement for Democratic Change treasurer Roy Bennett when state security agents tortured him.

Bennett’s trial resumed Monday, and Hitschmann’s testimony is likely to undermine the prosecution.

Hitschmann was arrested in 2006 and initially accused of plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe. Top Tsvangirai aide Bennett was then linked to the case and now faces charges that carry a possible death sentence or life imprisonment if convicted.

Bennett has pleaded not guilty, and he and other MDC party leaders call the allegations baseless.