Youth exonerated of negligence in fatal accident case

Youth exonerated of negligence in fatal accident case
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, SEPT 14
Judicial Magistrate First Class at Panjim has exonerated a youth who was accused of causing fatal accident at Bambolim in January 2009.
Magistrate Edgar Fernandes in the order admitted that the Agassaim police did not conduct a proper investigation and failed to record statements of eye-witnesses.
The police had indicted Savio Gomes, 22, of Salcette rash and negligence while riding his motorcycle GA-08-H-6421, which knocked down a pedestrian Ankush Tolyo Gauns. The victim later succumbed to his injuries.
The accident occurred on NH17 at Bamblim. Gomes was proceeding from Panjim to Nuvem on the fateful day. The pillion rider Meera Gomes received minor injuries.
During the trial of the case which began in June 2009, various loopholes were pointed out in the investigation leading to Savio’s acquittal. Moreover, Meera deposed that while her nephew (Savio) was riding, an old man (victim) who was trying to cross the road dashed against her legs, due to which Savio lost control and all three fell on the ground.
Meera further said that a Maruti Zen car went over the senior citizen who was dragged for about one meter.
Defence counsel Swapnil Nasnolkar argued that the eye-witness did not bring out any negligence by the accused and moreover, cross examination of the investigating officer revealed tat the case was not properly investigated.
Examination of “The investigating officer PSI Chawan (reveals) that though eye-witnesses were present at the place of incident, he had not recorded their statements nor had he taken down their names and addresses. I am therefore inclined to agree with the contention of the advocate Nasnolkar that the IO had not conducted a proper investigation in this case,” the Magistrate observed while acquitting the accused.