Arms deal corruption trial: Zuma's co-accused French arms company, Thales, seeks acquittal

DURBAN  - The French arms deal company, Thales, standing accused with former president Jacob Zuma on corruption charges, wants to be acquitted, citing the deaths of witnesses.

The company has filed papers with the Pietermaritzburg High Court in this regard.

It believes it will not have a fair trial, as its key witnesses can no longer take the stand.

The application was heard in the Pietermaritzburg High Court on Thursday with Zuma in full support of the bid.

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The second accused in this high-profile corruption trial, Thales, says its arguments during the trial would be affected by the absence of witnesses.

It told the court that two of its key witnesses, who were employees at the company, had died.

Thales approached the High Court in Pietermaritzburg to be cleared off all charges, saying it has no case.

Thales lawyer Advocate Berry Roux said, “The only two persons who could give evidence are dead, so it means Thales goes into this trial in a supine position on the majority part of the trial, and that is where it will remain. It has no case to offer after the close of the State’s case because it has no witnesses.”

Zuma’s lawyers have also argued that the State in the matter has no winnable case, calling for it to be scrapped

However, the State maintains there is a case to answer to.