Where was the witness?

Friday 12 July 2019

Despite promising to be there, one of the remaining key witnesses in the Sarah Groves murder trial failed to turn up to court for the latest scheduled hearing.

In another blow for her grieving family, Sarah's parents and brothers were told the witness who was initially due to give evidence on Wednesday, and had said he would be at the court on Thursday, didn't turn up again.

The hearing, listed as the State of Jammu & Kashmir v Richard de Wit, who denies murder, was due to convene over the last two days but no progress was made in the trial on Wednesday, due to civil unrest in the area which prevented any prisoners being taken to court.  

Witness number 27, Sub-Inspector Bashir Ahmad also couldn't get to court on Wednesday but Miss Groves' father Vic was told he would be there on Thursday so he could be cross examined by the prosecution.

However, yesterday's hearing - the 162nd in the trial - saw no progress being made yet again as Mr Ahmad did not turn up. There was no civil unrest and under-trial prisoners were transported to court so it is not clear why Mr Ahmad was not there. A warrant has since been issued for him to appear at the next hearing.

Mr Groves said it was "a very disappointing conclusion to two days of scheduled hearings.  Despite the recent wholesale change of key players, nothing seems to have changed.  Not only disappointing, an utter disgrace by any standard."

Pictured: Kate and Vic Groves. 

However, Mr Groves was pleased with a meeting between the Groves family legal representatives and the Judge. 

While he can't give any details at this time, Mr Groves had previously said the meeting was to discuss having the trial heard in English, as it previously was, rather than Urdu which the new Judge had ordered.

The trial is due to resume on Monday and Tuesday next week. 

Pictured top: Richard de Wit denies murdering Sarah Groves on a houseboat in Kashmir in April 2013.