A KEY defence witness came under intense cross-examination on October 2 as the 15-day murder trial of a Sigatoka couple accused of forcing an 18-year-old student to ingest lethal chemicals drew to a close before Justice Riyaz Hamza.
Mohammed Naushad and Nazreen Nisha Khan are each charged with one count of murder over the death of Jeet Singh, their daughter’s 18-year-old partner.
The alleged incident occurred at Maro, Sigatoka, on June 30, 2022.
Naushad also faces an additional charge of criminal intimidation.
During cross-examination by State prosecutor Sheenal Swastika, the defence witness — the accused’s daughter and sister of the complainant, Farnaaz Nisha — conceded that she did not know the full details of her sister’s relationship with the deceased, Jeet Singh.
When questioned about a statement she gave to police on the day of the alleged incident, the witness said she could not recall making it.
Ms Swastika put it to the witness that the statement recorded late-night visits by Mr Singh and said the witness had alerted her father. The witness denied having any knowledge of this.
Ms Swastika further suggested that Mr Naushad had smashed a secret telephone with a PVC pipe and physically disciplined Farnaaz after discovering the device on June 22, 2022.
The witness rejected the allegation, maintaining that her father had never physically disciplined her.
The State put to the witness that she had fabricated a claim about a suicide pact between the couple to protect her parents.
While the witness acknowledged that the detail was critical to the police investigation, she maintained that the conversation took place during a week she spent with the complainant.
Justice Hamza extended bail for both accused and adjourned the matter to October 15 for closing submissions.
