Russian woman rape:Court to conduct day-to-day trial
HERALD REPORTER
MARGAO, JULY 9
The Sessions court, South will conduct day-to-day trial of the Russian woman rape case involving John Fernandes, beginning from July 19.
A total of 18 witnesses will be examined – three each on one day – by the court of Additional Sessions Judge B P Deshpande. The Crime branch has cited a total of 42 witnesses in support of its case and the prosecution is likely to summon only those important witnesses relevant to the case.
However, of the 18 names cited by the prosecution, the name of complainant victim is not figuring in the list of witnesses.
In fact, this point was made to the Judge on Friday when the case came up for hearing, with the defence counsel wondering why the complainant is not figuring in the witness list.
While the prosecution said the complainant will be cited as a witness no sooner the report from the central forensic laboratory is received by the crime branch, the defence contended why the accused has to suffer for the delay in receiving the forensic report when the accused has been languishing in jail for the last six months without bail.
Sources in the prosecution said the victim will be examined as a witness no sooner the central forensic laboratory is received by the crime branch since the complainant is required to identify the clothes and other property attached by the investigating agency.
The South Goa Sessions court had last week framed charges against accused John Fernandes for rape and destruction of evidence.
