Virus outbreaks latest setback in Groves trial

The 24-year-old was found dead on a house boat in Kashmir in 2013.

The start of June marked the seventh anniversary of the start of the trial, with Richard de Wit in custody, accused of the young woman’s murder.

Sarah’s father Vic Groves said the last successful hearing was in February.

‘Since then five additional hearings have been scheduled, but none took place,’ he said.

‘The last two, scheduled for 8th and 9th April, being unable to proceed due to Covid-19. Since then all India, including the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, has been in lockdown due to Covid-19, during which time the courts have not functioned. The latest reports received indicate that steps may be under way in Srinagar to conduct hearings using a remote link from the Central Jail via which defendants can be represented. This is far from certain as the courts themselves are not able to function at present.

‘It is therefore unlikely that there will be any progress in the trial in the immediate future.’

Of the 46 witnesses listed by the prosecution in the case, eight remain to be heard.

‘Two are significant witnesses – the taxi driver who drove Richard de Wit away from Srinagar before being directed to divert to a police station some 70 kilometres away and who has since become untraceable and the Chief Investigating Officer Nazir Ahmad, who will be the last prosecution witness to give evidence,’ Mr Groves said.

More than 250,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in India, with 7,000 deaths. However, the numbers could be higher, as there have been concerns about a lack of testing.