Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Twitter
Yahoo!
TechnoratiKey witness shot dead ahead of clan trial
A key witness in the trial of a muslim clan accused of organising the country's worst political massacre has been shot dead. Suwaib Upham is the second trial witness to be killed in what authorities say is a campaign to intimidate anyone who speaks out against the Ampatuan family.
Upham was killed in the southern province of Maguindanao which the Ampatuan clan has ruled for a decade.
Prosecutor Harry Roque said Upham had been talking to prosecutors in Manila since February but had returned to the province after the justice department did not act quickly on his request for protection.
His death comes two months after an uncle of another witness was also shot and killed.
Roque said Upham had seen and participated in the killings and could have named those directly involved. He warned that his death could potentially weaken the case against the Ampatuan family.
Six clan members are among 196 accused of the murder of 57 people in November allegedly carried out to prevent a member of a rival clan from running as governor of the province.
The trial has been dogged by controversy and was suspended in April.
