127th hearing for Sarah Groves: a blank day in court

Wednesday 05 September 2018

The first of two back-to-back hearings in the murder trial of Sarah Groves took place in India yesterday, but came to nothing after the accused was brought to the court late, and then the prosecutor disappeared.

The hearing was the 127th to take place since Sarah was found dead, with the 128th taking place today, but Sarah's father, Vic Groves, said it was a blank day in court.

The court had to reconvene after lunch because Richard De Wit, the man accused of the murder, was not brought to the court on time. But when it did, the Public Prosecutor was not present, meaning the hearing could not go ahead.

"The Public Prosecutor eventually arrived in court at 14:30 at which point the judge was infuriated.  He asked for an assurance from the Prosecutor that witnesses would attend court for tomorrow’s scheduled hearing.  These assurances, even when backed by bailable warrants, have previously counted for very little," Mr Groves said.

"During WhatsApp exchanges with our legal representative, he was asked to register a formal complaint to the judge in respect of the appalling track record of the Public Prosecutor.  This was backed up by a firm request to replace him with a more competent person."

Today, the trial continues with the next hearing, but the Groves were hoping more progress would be made during this two day session.

Yesterday, Mr Groves spoke to Express about how he thought their "quest for justice" was going, but today, he could only comment on their continued disdain for the Kashmiri system of justice.

"A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  Today, there were many weak links and it is therefore not surprising that yet again it was a blank day in court in which no progress was made," he added. 

Pictured: Richard De Wit on September 3 2018 and Sarah Groves.