By A Correspondent -Harare regional magistrate Mrs Vongai Guwuriro Muchuchuti, has dismissed MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti’s application to have senior prosecutor Mr Micheal Reza recused from his trial.

Mrs Guwuriro Muchuchuti said as a prosecutor had no say in deciding the innocence or guilt of a person on trial, it was difficult to see how retaining Mr Reza could affect the fairness of the trial.

The trial will now open on June 18.

Biti, through lawyer Mr Alec Muchadehama, had applied for the recusal of Mr Reza saying that he was compromised

It is the State’s case that Ms Tatiana Aleshina was allegedly insulted and assaulted by Biti outside the Harare Magistrates Court building, but still within the precincts of the courts.

Mrs Aleshina filed a report with the police and has also lodged two further complaints with the Law Society of Zimbabwe.

In her complaint, Ms Aleshina wants Biti investigated for alleged gross unprofessional conduct and alleges she and her workmates were intimidated and verbally abused outside the court each time they came.

Ms Aleshina is one of the witnesses in the Katsimberis criminal case involving alleged fraud with regards to a joint venture with Pokugara Properties to build cluster houses in Harare’s Borrowdale suburb.

In that case, Katsimberis is being accused of using plans that were not approved by Harare City Council which led to the show house being demolished.