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Sarah Groves family are facing another Christmas without finding out who killed her, as they ask for help "rattling cages" so they can finally reach justice in 2020.
The man accused of murdering her, was in court again last week and is due to reappear again a week today, for the final hearing of 2019.
Richard de Wit denies murder and his case has seen a constant stream of setbacks since he was arrested in the hours after Miss Groves' murder in April 2013.
Pictured: Richard de Wit has been held on remand for nearly seven years, since Sarah Groves died in April 2013.
Most recently the trial has been affected by political changes in Kashmir, following the revocation of its Special Status within the Indian constitution. That had meant some criminal trials were disrupted as prisoners could not be taken to court.
On Thursday 19 December, Mr de Wit was due to be in court for its trial, in the 175th scheduled hearing in the case. He was taken to court on this occasion and was intact the only under-trial prisoner transported from the Central Jail on that date.
Vic Groves, Sarah's father said:
"Life is slowly returning to some semblance of normality in Kashmir following the revocation of its Special Status within the Indian constitution. That said, communication is still difficult with all internet and SMS texting facilities withdrawn.
"Efforts to prioritise the transfer of the accused, Richard de Wit, from jail to court appear to be working much better. He has been in court for the past three scheduled hearings. Today, he was the only under-trial prisoner transported from the Central Jail.
"The Judge, the Prosecutor and a representative of Richard de Wit’s defence Counsel were all in court. However, as has happened on so many occasions throughout this trial, no witnesses appeared."
Pictured: Kate and Vic Groves, Sarah's parents.
Mr Groves said this was particularly disappointing as they had hoped one of those witnesses could finish giving evidence before Christmas, "following many months in limbo".
Now Mr Groves and his family are asking for action from their supporters, saying that "rattling cages" might help.
"The trial simply cannot proceed along these lines any longer and some level of investigation must take place as to why witnesses are failing to appear. Clearly this is an unacceptable situation but what to do about it?
"It is our misfortune that these events are taking place in Kashmir, and Kashmir is not like anywhere else in the world that we are aware of. It has had a normality-by-pass operation!"
"No-one associated with this trial can be proud of their involvement and contribution – the prosecution, the defence counsel and the Judge. No-one outside the immediate court process itself can be proud of themselves – the Kashmiri legal and political establishment; the Delhi-based legal, political and diplomatic establishment; the Dutch Government for what appears to be a complete lack of interest in proceedings and, sadly, the British Government for what are now becoming platitudes when they can no longer blame Brexit or the Purdah of a General Election.
Pictured: Sarah Groves.
"With some notable exceptions, sadly outside of Guernsey where Sarah lived we must include great swathes of the media in our criticism.
"The tragedy was for some time ‘a topic of interest’ for you. We recognise that the lack of progress in the trial is a difficult subject to keep alive over such a protracted period. However, Sarah’s death is no less significant, no less tragic and no less a mystery today than it was nearly seven years ago.
"Your support in rattling cages, achieving Justice for Sarah and as a direct result providing closure for Sarah’s family and friends is required more now than at any other time."
April 2020 will mark seven years since Sarah Groves was stabbed to death on a houseboat in Kashmir.
As the trial heads towards its 176th scheduled hearing on Monday 30 December 2019, her family will be waiting for further updates from their contacts in India as they welcome the New Year.
Pictured top: Sarah Groves.
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