Kin writes to CM, seeks speedy trial
TNN | Mar 15, 2019, 04:29 ISTThiruvananthapuram: A year after the alleged rape and murder of a Latvian tourist at Kovalam, the victim’s sister has written to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan demanding constitution of a special court for a speedy trial.
“Those who took my sister’s life are walking around freely. I have come to know that the delay in trial was due to inefficiency of the police, who didn’t file the chargesheet on time after making the arrests. I kindly ask you now to put end to this long suffering and constitute a special court for justice to be served to my sister and give peace to my heartbroken family…” said the letter, copy of which was made available to the media.
The 32-year-old woman, who arrived from Ireland for treatment at Dharma Ayurveda Healing Centre at Pothencode here, had gone missing on March 14, 2018. Her putrefying body was found at Vazhamuttom on April 20, 2018.
According to the chargesheet filed in August, the woman had arrived at Kovalam in an autorickshaw and reached Vazhamuttom on foot. While exploring the neighbourhood, she got enticed by two men masquerading as tourist guides. The duo, habitual offenders, offered her ganja, took her to a secluded spot and raped her. When she tried to escape, the two tried to restrain her using force, eventually leading to her death due to strangulation.
The letter also pointed out that she was patiently making inquiries with additional DGP Manoj Abraham and the lawyer assigned to the case, though she was ‘aware that court proceedings could take a long time’.
Police had taken 118 days to file the chargesheet. “This delay wouldn’t have happened if it was filed within 90 days of the arrest…the court would have never granted them the bail and the trial would have started long ago,” the letter said. tnn
“Those who took my sister’s life are walking around freely. I have come to know that the delay in trial was due to inefficiency of the police, who didn’t file the chargesheet on time after making the arrests. I kindly ask you now to put end to this long suffering and constitute a special court for justice to be served to my sister and give peace to my heartbroken family…” said the letter, copy of which was made available to the media.
The 32-year-old woman, who arrived from Ireland for treatment at Dharma Ayurveda Healing Centre at Pothencode here, had gone missing on March 14, 2018. Her putrefying body was found at Vazhamuttom on April 20, 2018.
According to the chargesheet filed in August, the woman had arrived at Kovalam in an autorickshaw and reached Vazhamuttom on foot. While exploring the neighbourhood, she got enticed by two men masquerading as tourist guides. The duo, habitual offenders, offered her ganja, took her to a secluded spot and raped her. When she tried to escape, the two tried to restrain her using force, eventually leading to her death due to strangulation.
The letter also pointed out that she was patiently making inquiries with additional DGP Manoj Abraham and the lawyer assigned to the case, though she was ‘aware that court proceedings could take a long time’.
Police had taken 118 days to file the chargesheet. “This delay wouldn’t have happened if it was filed within 90 days of the arrest…the court would have never granted them the bail and the trial would have started long ago,” the letter said. tnn
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