Civil unrest disrupts Groves trial, again

Tuesday 12 March 2019

The 150th scheduled hearing in the trial of the man accused of killing Sarah Groves has again failed to see any progress made.

Civil unrest was the problem yet again this time, as it meant the accused couldn't be taken to court for the latest stage in his long running trial.

Richard de Wit denies murdering Miss Groves, who died while staying on a houseboat in Kashmir in April 2013.

He was arrested soon afterwards but the long running trial has yet to come to any conclusion.

Pictured: Richard de Wit during a previous court hearing.

Miss Groves' family have been told the security situation around the court house in Kashmir remains very tense, which means under-trial prisoners, including the accused Mr de Wit, could not be taken to court.

The family's legal representatives in Srinagar said there was a witness present at the court yesterday, meaning the case could have proceeded if Mr de Wit had been in court. Instead the Judge deferred proceedings until Friday 29 March.

The Groves family are not happy though.

"All steps to have the trial moved to another location and / or to another court have failed; we have so far been unable to secure the replacement of the Special Public Prosecutor Mr Mohammad Sultan; civil unrest continues to thwart any progress at this time.

"Indian national elections will be taking place in exactly one month’s time on 11 April.  Due to the prevailing tensions, there are reports that the State of Jammu & Kashmir will be excluded from the election process.  Further civil unrest is inevitable in the days and weeks that lie ahead," warned Miss Groves parents. 

"Clearly, 2019 has not started as hoped.  There has been no progress in the trial since 1 November 2018 a period of five months as at the date of the next scheduled hearing."

The next hearing is scheduled for Friday 29 March 2019.