MARGAO, SEPT 22
Accused in the Russian woman rape case, John Fernandes has once again opted for a new lawyer to defend him in the criminal case.
Former lawyer of former Tourism Minister, Mickky Pacheco, Panjim-based Adv Amit Palyekar appeared for John in the South Goa Sessions Court on Wednesday in place of city-based criminal Lawyer, Adv AnacletoViegas.
John has so far changed four lawyers as his pleas for bail found no favour with the courts. Adv Rajiv Gomes was the first to defend John in the rape case, followed by another city-based criminal lawyer, Adv Mike Mehta. In between, John also engaged the services of Mumbai-based criminal lawyer, Adv Ashwin Naik to argue his bail application in the Bombay High Court.
The accused later settled for Adv Anacleto Viegas as trial in the rape case commenced two months ago on a day-to-day basis.
When contacted, Adv Viegas said he allowed John’s sister to take back the file following some differences on the bail petition which was filed in the Supreme Court recently. “As a lawyer, I was not informed the bail application filed in the Supreme Court. There were some differences after which I told John’s sister to take the file. I have no problem if the accused has engaged another lawyer”, Adv Viegas said.
