Ethiopia: Tigray Supreme Court Defends Zewdu Haftu Case Acquittal, Says Appeal Remains an Option
[Addis Standard] Addis Abeba -- The Tigray Regional State Supreme Court has defended the acquittal of two men previously convicted of brutally murdering Zewdu Haftu, saying the Mekelle City High Court reached its latest verdict after re-examining the case in line with instructions from the Supreme Court's Cassation Bench.
The Tigray Regional State Supreme Court in Ethiopia has defended the acquittal of two men, Yared Gebreslase Belay and Angesom Hailemaryiam, who were previously convicted of murdering Zewdu Haftu. The Mekelle City High Court originally sentenced the men to life imprisonment, but the Cassation Bench of the Tigray Regional Supreme Court reversed the verdicts, prompting a re-examination of the case.
On August 5, 2026, the High Court acquitted the defendants after a thorough re-evaluation of the evidence, which was conducted in accordance with instructions from the Supreme Court's Cassation Bench. Zewdu Haftu, a 32-year-old woman, was killed in August 2023 after resisting a sexual assault and was subsequently crushed under a vehicle, an incident that sparked outrage and calls for accountability for gender-based violence in Tigray.
Following the acquittal, public controversy arose, with some alleging conflicts of interest and witness treatment issues. Civilian organizations expressed dissatisfaction, urging for an appeal. The Supreme Court emphasized that any dissatisfaction with court rulings should be voiced through the legally prescribed appeal process and that constructive feedback is welcome.
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