Russian rape accused John moves for bail

Russian rape accused John moves for bail
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, NOV 9
The accused in the Russian woman rape case, John Fernandes has moved the Sessions Court for bail.
The bail application comes against the backdrop of the examination of the Russian rape victim by the Sessions Court last week and the observation made by the High Court that he can apply for bail once the material witness is examined by the court.
In his bail application, John submitted that he is entitled for bail as the material witnesses has been examined in the case and only the report from the Central Forensic laboratory is awaited.
Moreover, he contended that it’s nearly eight month now since the report from the CFL is being awaited and that the agency has done nothing to obtain the report from the laboratory till date.
The bail application will come up for arguments in the session court on November 11, where the crime branch will have to file its reply to the application.
John has been in custody since January last year after he surrendered to the crime branch after his bail application did not find favour with the Supreme Court.
Since then, the regular bail application filed by the resident of Colva to the Session Court, High Court and to the Supreme Court failed to get him the bail.
Hopes for the early bail have been raised now after the rape victim deposed before the Sessions Court last week. But, sources in the prosecution says the CLF report is yet to come from Hyderabad and the victim woman is required to again come to the court to identify the clothes and other items attached by the crime branch and is part of the investigations.
Sources said that the trial in the rape case is almost complete and only the investigating officer of the crime branch, besides two-three police officers awaiting examination in the case.