194th Hearing of Danielle McLaughlin Murder : Details of hearing has started vaporizing in thin air.
E-Courts portal which publishes the details of proceedings of the hearing, almost blank now, causing great distress and anguish to family.
The stalemate in Danielle McLaughlin’s rape and murder trial continues.
Last Friday, On 19th May 2023, it was 194th hearing of the trial.
Accused Vikat Bhagat, continues to enjoy the hospitality of the State Government of Goa and Goa Police. This was the 8th consecutive time, that he was not produced in the court.
The details which are provided on the E-Courts portal is the only way, through which victim’s family keeps a tab on a hearing-to-hearing basis.
Surprisingly, now the details have started thinning out, making the victim's family more anxious; as the trial continues to be a stalemate.
In last Friday’s hearing update; there was no details provided, as in whether the accused lawyer's was present for the hearing or not.
Barely any business transacted, last Friday; as there was only a summon issued to Prosecution Witness number 16, to whom the summons have been issued innumerable times in the past also.
Accused, Vikat Bhagat was produced through VC once again, but now the detail or the reason thereof, is missing.
In the past, the most common reason cited has been "the lack of Police Escorts"; and some other hilarious reasons told by the Jailor of the Colvale Central Jail, like "accused did not produce himself at the main gate on time".As the media in Ireland has started highlighting these lapses, in the details of the last hearing, there was nothing mentioned, as in why, the accused again produced through VC only and not personally.
It could be anybody's guess as in why, these details are missing : To protect the accused and Goa Police posted at Colvale Central Jail.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in all the bravado announced on 25th April 2023: “Three months back, the Prison Department was shifted from prison to police department where in an IGP rank officer was appointed to handle the administration. Major changes are witnessing during this period. Everything will be changed and proper discipline will be put in place,”
While the details on the E-Courts portal on 5th May 2023, suggested,that next hearing, which was after 2 weeks of that hearing, a lady judge would try the case. But, last Friday, it did not happen. Whether the same would ensue on the 2nd of June 2023, which would be the 195th hearing of the trial, is now missing from the trial's details provided on E-Courts portal, last Friday.
While justice was never forthcoming, in all these 6 Years; even the precious little information, which was some kind of solace for the victim's family, has started disappearing.