High Court of Goa, instructs Trial Court to finish Danielle McLaughlin's trial, within 1 Year.
HC Judgement comes exactly 4 months after 99Goa started writing about the trial.
The Hon'ble High Court of Bombay at Goa, directed yesterday, the trial court of Danielle McLaughlin's Rape and Murder Trial, to expedite the trial, and finish it within one year.Danielle's trial which started on 4th July 2017, has completed 204 Hearings so far.
Since, then tracking the trial persistently, it has been 13 articles so far; and this is the 14th one. A sweet one indeed.
While it has been often said that Law is Blind, certainly Judiciary and Judges are not blind; at least in most of the cases.
While the accused and his lawyers tried every book in the trade, to prolong and delay the trial, so that thy can move for bail, on the grounds of protracted long trial;the Hon'ble High Court was able to see through the modus operandi completely.
The bail application which was moved by accused Vikat Bhagat has also been dismissed.
After 6 Years of anguish and pain, it's finally some positive news for the family& friends and the victim herself.
Everyone wants this trial, to be over; and despite the fact of initial confession of accused, that he murdered Danielle, in the most gruesome way, one can't even imagine; this trial has been languishing for more than 6 Years.
Summons not served;
Summons served but witness not appearing;
Witness asking for more time to be available on medical grounds;
Accused not being produced;
Defense Lawyer not being present;
Accused,accusing Goa Police of assault and harassment;
Defense fighting for the "rights" of the accused, but forgetting about the rights of the victim;
Hearings being held at almost 3 weeks interval during the period;
Accused moving bail application, time and again; there is a long roster of things.After 6 Years, the maxim "Justice Delayed, Is Justice Denied" still holds true in Danielle's trial; but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel, finally. One year away, but still, the ray of hope can be seen.
Accused Vikat Bhagat needs to be served an exemplary punishment for the 2 grave and heinous crimes which he committed against the victim; the rape and murder.The trial court should see that, there is no "Vikat" rises his monstrous head ever again in Goa.
This judgment of Hon'ble High Court also raises hope of other tourist victims of atrocity in Goa; which were dismissed summarily as cases of unnatural death and investigation closed under the pressure of influential people and Goa Police officials.