KAMPALA, Uganda — Defense lawyers aggressively questioned a ballistic expert’s methodology and findings on Tuesday in the murder trial of Molly Katanga, accused of killing her husband, businessman Henry Katanga.
Derrick Nasawali, the head of the Ballistic and Tool Marks Department at the Police’s Forensic Unit, was subjected to intense scrutiny by the defense team, who challenged his conclusions and expertise.
Nasawali had testified on Tuesday that a toxicology examination revealed gunshot residue on Katanga’s clothes and hand swabs. However, during cross-examination, he clarified that the presence of gunshot residue doesn’t conclusively point to the fact that someone fired a gun.
Defense lawyers seized on this admission, suggesting that Nasawali’s findings were inconclusive and potentially flawed. They also questioned his decision not to examine a mosquito net that was exhibited by police, which they argued could have provided crucial evidence.
Nasawali explained that he couldn’t process the mosquito net because it was submitted to his laboratory six months after he had written his ballistic report. However, the defense team remained skeptical, implying that Nasawali’s failure to examine the net was a significant oversight.
The trial, which has captivated the nation, continues on Wednesday, with the prosecution expected to call additional witnesses. Katanga’s mother, two daughters, a farmhand, and a nursing officer are also accused in connection with Henry Katanga’s murder.
