DR Congo rights group condemns founder's murder trial as 'travesty'

KINSHASA (AFP) - The rights group founded by murdered Democratic Republic of Congo activist Floribert Chebeya on Wednesday said it was withdrawing from the case of eight police officers accused of his murder to avoid "condoning a travesty of justice".

"We withdrew from the trial, meaning we're no longer a plaintiff and we'll no longer attend any hearings," Dolly Ibefo, executive director of the Voice of the Voiceless rights organisation, told AFP.

"The main reason: we don't want to condone a travesty of justice," she added.

The move comes after the military court announced last month that former DR Congo police chief John Numbi, who the NGO considers the prime suspect, would not be required to appear at the trial.

Other NGOs have since withdrawn from the trial, whose next hearing is scheduled for later this month. Ibero said the rights group planned to bring the case before an international court.

Chebeya, 47, was found dead in his car in 2010 on the outskirts of Kinshasa, a day after he visited police headquarters. His wrists bore handcuff marks.

Of the eight police officers on trial, the court last year sentenced four to death, three in their absence, one to life in prison and acquitted the other three.

All eight are on trial again with the plaintiffs arguing that Numbi should be the chief suspect in Chebeya's death.

Numbi, who has been suspended from duty, had testified during the murder trial that he never met Chebeya.