Groves family fear murder trial is going nowhere
SEPARATIST strikes in Kashmir, India, caused the latest hearing in the trial of the man accused of murdering Sarah Groves to be cancelled.
And with political unrest ‘worse than ever’ in the country, Sarah’s father, Vic, said the family appeared to have reached a dead end in their fight for justice.
‘We are finding it very difficult to influence proceedings in even the smallest of ways. Local people, from whom we receive regular reports on what life is like in Kashmir, describe the current situation as worse than ever.
‘People are being advised to stay at home for their own safety and the immediate future looks very bleak.
‘With 15 witnesses yet to be heard, there is still a very long way to go before any conclusion can be reached.’
Dutchman Richard de Wit, who is accused of killing Sarah on a houseboat in 2013, was unable to be brought to court due to a lack of police escorts.
No witnesses were present and the 122nd scheduled hearing was adjourned.
‘This adjournment was not unexpected. Firstly, the separatists usually call for general strikes on a Saturday and this week was no exception.
‘The court sits on a Saturday once a month and in the history of the trial, very few hearings have been successfully held on a Saturday.
‘Secondly, there are very serious political issues in Kashmir at this time.’
The judge ordered the prosecutor to produce three witnesses for the next scheduled hearing on 23 July.
