PANJIM: Zaine Keith Almeida, accused in the sword attack case of April 2014 outside Down The Road pub in Panjim, has been convicted by the Panjim Principal District and Sessions Court.
The Court convicted Almeida for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to the victims by dangerous weapons. The Court will hear arguments over quantum of punishment on Thursday.
On Easter Sunday of 2014, April 20, Almeida (then 23 years old) had attacked two persons Raju Sarin and Rafael Peregrino da Costa both 37 years old and residents of Altinho and Campal respectively. The victims had suffered serious wounds to their face and neck after the vicious attack outside the pub at around 5.40 am on the fateful Sunday. The attack had sent shock waves in Panjim.
Nearly 15 witnesses who were partying at the pub after the Easter vigil service had testified corroborating the complainant’s account of the attack. While Sarin was stabbed on his neck, Costa was attacked right in the face and both were shifted to Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) in Bambolim in serious condition due to excessive bleeding.
The attack was a result of verbal spat between the trio, who were frequent visitors to the pub. A verbal altercation between them had turned physical when Almeida, along with a female friend, was exiting the pub. The altercation had erupted allegedly due to remarks made at the female friend accompanying Almeida.
Almeida fled from the crime spot in his car leaving the victims bleeding on the roadside. He was arrested the same day at around 11am in Mapusa.
The complainant, Sumesh Kuhkhat had alleged that the accused had removed a sword from his car boot while a young woman was seated inside the car, and stabbed the two victims.
