Successful Week for Billy Downer

Score one for Billy Downer again! 🥳

Our good pal, attorney Billy Downer, claimed another victory this week in the perennial battle against former president Jacob Zuma. Zuma's not-so-favorite legal eagle managed to fend off yet another attempt from Zuma, this time in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court, to remove Downer from the fraud and corruption trial that's been ongoing since 2005. The distinguished judge, Nkosinathi Chili, dismissed Zuma's latest bid to have Downer replaced, ruling that there were "no reasonable prospects" for success.

This isn't the first time Downer, a member of the team that successfully prosecuted Zuma's financial advisor Schabir Shaik, has been at the receiving end of Zuma's disapproval. Ever since, Zuma's legal team has been gunning for Downer, accusing him of bias and unfair treatment. They've indicated that they plan to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Fun fact: Billy Downer has become a central figure in this drawn-out legal drama, with Zuma nicknaming his defense strategy the "Stalingrad."

Just to give you a taste of the twists and turns in this complex case:- French arms company Thales, a co-accused, has applied for the case to be dropped, arguing that the deaths of two crucial witnesses (Alain Thetard and Jean-Paul Moynot) have impacted their ability to defend themselves[5].- Zuma himself has filed for acquittal, but conditionally - his request is contingent on Thales' application being successful[5].

Both parties are facing corruption, racketeering, fraud, and money laundering charges tied to alleged bribes during the arms procurement process[1][5]. Judge Chili has yet to make a decision on Thales' application, while Zuma's separate appeal against Downer still lingers[4][5]. Keep an eye on this one; it's a whopper! 🌭

Sources:[1] https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/zumas-corruption-trial-another-setback-for-the-defence-1a838746-16fe-4b19-a434-e0065d0ffa05[2] https://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/court-costs-rejected-for-zuma-in-arms-deal-case-13e8a061-170a-4056-8c36-18c62d35730f[3] https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/jacob-zuma-angry-after-msholozi-s-man-walden-sisulu-appearance-20220520[4] https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/zumas-lawyers-seek-appeal-against-judge-for-removing-prosecutor-f54331b4-f3fb-449a-a264-868dfa714dd5[5] https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/sas-sikhakhane-trial-update-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-zuma-corruption-case-371108641[6] https://politicsweb.co.za/opinion/the-dzongis-stalingrad-defence-strategy

Billy Downer's adversarial relationship with former president Jacob Zuma continued this week, as the KwaZulu-Natal High Court dismissed Zuma's bid to have Downer removed from the fraud and corruption trial, citing "no reasonable prospects" for success.
Zuma's legal team has accused Billy Downer of bias and unfair treatment, a claim that dates back to the successful prosecution of Zuma's financial advisor Schabir Shaik.
The ongoing battle between Zuma and Downer has become a significant focus in the complex case, with Zuma's defense strategy even earning a nickname, the "Stalingrad."
Meanwhile, both Zuma and French arms company Thales are facing corruption, racketeering, fraud, and money laundering charges, with Judge Chili yet to decide on Thales' application to have the case dropped due to the deaths of crucial witnesses.