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New twist in murder trial chaos
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 7th October 2008
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New twist in murder trial chaos
By NOOR TOORANI
Published: 7th October 2008
THE trial of 19 men allegedly involved in the murder of a Pakistani policeman took a bizarre twist yesterday, when a defence lawyer claimed to have proof that the officer actually died five months before the government said he did. Lawyer Jassim Sarhan stunned the High Criminal Court into silence when he produced an Interior Ministry document that appeared to show Majid Asghar Ali Kareem Baksh died in November last year – not last April.
It was one of the few moments of quiet in a highly-charged session, during which police had to use stun guns to control the defendants after they were prevented from speaking to their relatives.
An ambulance had to be called to treat one of five prisoners who were stunned with a taser, while extra riot police had to be drafted into the courtroom to control the prisoners and their relatives.
However, it was the evidence produced by Mr Sarhan – which even took the other defence lawyers by surprise – that caught prosecutors off guard.
“This report is an official stamped document from the Interior Ministry that states the alleged murder victim had in fact died months before the riot (in which he died) took place,” he told the court.
“I request the court to review the matter and look at the evidence submitted because this proves that our clients are innocent of the murder charges set against them.
“We request the court to clear them of all charges and set them free.”
The document also says that Mr Baksh’s family had collected compensation for his death in December.
The 19 Bahraini defendants are accused of ambushing a police patrol with Molotov cocktails in Karzakan last April.
Police say Mr Baksh, 24, was killed in the brutal attack, while two of his colleagues were injured.
Yesterday’s hearing was delayed by around 30 minutes after the defendants appeared in court due to the commotion caused by their relatives, who began screaming and shouting at police officers when they were not allowed to meet them.
Judges had to wait in their chambers as riot police tried to control the families and court officers threatened to cancel the hearing unless order was restored.
The actual hearing itself lasted just 20 minutes and the case was adjourned to November 10 to await a medical report from the Health Ministry, which was carried out in response to allegations of prisoner abuse, and to present Mr Baksh’s death certificate.
However, after the three judges left the courtroom, one of the defendants jumped up and tried to embrace his relatives before being pushed back by police.
When other defendants began trying to reach their relatives, a fight broke out between the prisoners and officers, who were trying to hold them back.
Extra riot police had to be drafted into the court as the commotion continued for up to 45 minutes, with officers fighting off both the defendants and their relatives.
Five of the defendants collapsed as police used stun guns to control them and an ambulance had to be called when one of them did not regain consciousness.
He was taken on a stretcher into a backroom while his family waited for him near the ambulance outside, but when paramedics emerged 20 minutes later, they said he had regained consciousness and was taken back to the prison bus. noor@gdn.com.bh
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http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/1yr_arc_Articles.asp?Article=230866&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31201&date=10-7-2008