259th Hearing of Danielle McLaughlin's Rape & Murder Trial Today.
While the trial has been moving at a fast pace, another attempt by accused Vikat Bhagat to prolong it further. Instigating inmates against Jail Authorities and threatening Goa Police officials.
259th Hearing of Danielle McLaughlin's Rape and Trial would be conducted today.
The Trial which started on 4th July 2017 has seen 28 Hearings this Year, so far.
While the Trial has speeded up by leaps and bounds, since 17th July 2023 order of Honourable High Court of Goa at Bombay, directing the Trial Court to finish the trail in a time bound manner by July 2024; it seems the accused Vikat Bhagat seems to have resigned to his fate already or trying to prolong the trial, further, again.
On 18th May evening, Saturday; while he was being shifted from one cell block to another; he tried to instigate other prisoners against the Jail Authorities and Goa Police officials. He directed them to block the exit gate of present prison cell, so that he could not be transferred in an orderly manner.
((Heraldo Goa reports on 19th May 2024.))
While there is no further information on why he was being transferred from under-trial prison block to another; it could be just routine shuffling by Colvale Central Jail Authorities, or this could be related to rowdy and rogue behaviour of Vikat in the present block, not only with the fellow inmates but also the official responsible for that cell block.
This is not the first time that Vikat has shown scant regards to the rule of law and those who are enforcing it, within the four walls confines of the prison.
Last year, almost during this time only, he was accused of misbehaving with the prison authorities and later accused Jail Officials of beating him up.
https://open.substack.com/pub/99goa/p/196-irish-danielle-mclaughlin-rape-murder-trial
While this new twist came up, it delayed the trial for a month or so last year; and invariably this incident of 18th May could be the same trick deployed; as the trial nears to its end.
While the evidence and witness examination is towards completion, the Honourable District and Sessions Court of Margao; would definitely factor in the various incidents of mis conducts and gross disrespect towards the rule of law, while concluding the trial.
The very fact that, Vikat Bhagat was even before the gruesome rape and murder he committed of Danielle McLaughlin was a known History Sheeter and frequent law breaker, has to be weighed in.
He even had the audacity to threaten the Jailor of Colvale Jail with "dire consequences" on 18th May; while time and again, the Jailor and Jail Superintendent has helped him delaying and prolonging the trial, which has been documented well enough on this publication.
https://x.com/99Goa/status/1791738514800803965
Is this a fall out between Vikat Bhagat and Jail authorities or finally the Jail Authorities seemed to have enough of his shenanigans, in last 7 Years; which has brought only shame and disgrace to Goa Police is something to be seen.
What has been the fallout of this incident would be known only in subsequent hearings, but all we , family and friends hope that this has no consequence on the speed of the trial, whose speed has been exemplary in last one year.
Danielle's Trial has been extensively covered here :
https://99goa.substack.com/s/danielle-mclaughlin-murder-trial/archive?sort=new