Kochi: The Ernakulam principal sessions court on Tuesday disallowed a plea by the defense counsel to recall five witnesses in the Perumbavur Dalit woman murder case including the victim's mother.
The development comes even as final hearing in the case is set to begin on Wednesday.
Earlier the defense submitted a petition to recall five witnesses including the victim's mother, 11th , 12th and 13th witnesses, all migrant workers, besides the 19th accused.
Judge N. Anil Kumar, however, dismissed the petition by allowing the prosecution's argument that these witnessed had been already examined and termed the attempt to recall the witness as an attempt to delay the final hearing.
The court has so far examined 100 witnesses in connection with the case. The prosecution completed examination of witnesses in 74 days and presented circumstantial evidence and witness statements before the court to prove the role of Ameerul Islam, the lone accused, in the murder. The case pertains to the brutal rape and murder of the Dalit woman from Perumbavoor in April last year.
