Russian rape trial commences
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 19
Trial in the Russian women rape case got underway in the South Goa Sessions Court on Monday.
Day one of the trial conducted before Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande saw the prosecution examining two witnesses, including a panch witness in support of its case.
The trial will be conducted on a day-to-day basis as desired by accused, John Fernandes as he has been in custody without trial for more than six months.
While Public Prosecutor, Bhanudas Gaonkar appeared for the state, the accused was represented by Adv Anacleto Viegas.
The Crime Branch had listed 42 witnesses in support of its case, of which the prosecution has called for examination of 18 witnesses.
Incidentally, the complainant Russian woman is not figuring in the list of 18 witnesses the prosecution wants to examine in the case.
Sources in the know said the prosecution will call her for examination after the report from the central forensic laboratory is received by the investigating agency.
