An Air Terminal Services employee took the witness stand today as the alleged murder trial of accused Simon McCartney continued this afternoon.
Manoj Kumar was cross examined today by the State Counsel and told the court that he was on duty as a supervisor when the Pacific Blue Airline landed at the arrival concourse. Kumar confirmed on the record of flight details that Ashika Lata was on the flight.
Meanwhile, Justice Daniel Gounder told the state Counsel to ensure that all her witnesses are to be present in court tomorrow including one witness that gave a sick sheet today.
The Case resumes at 9.30am tomorrow. Meanwhile, the deceased, Ashika Lata who arrived in Fiji on 20th October last year, was reported missing three days later when she failed to turn up at her father's house. Her body was found a few days after that in Deuba.
Earlier...
"Did you arrange for her death?"
This was the question asked of Ashika Lata's father Rajendra Prasad on her alleged murder as the trial of accused Simon McCartney continued in the High Court this morning before Judge Justice Daniel Gounder.
Prasad said no he did not arrange for his daughter's death.
McCartney's lawyer Sevuloni Valenitabua based his cross examination on a business deal between Prasad and McCartney whereby Prasad owed him $25,900 and did not pay the money back.
Valenitabua suggested that Lata was in Fiji to be a witness to confirm that her father did in fact owe that money to her husband to which Prasad replied he did not know anything about this.
Prasad was also questioned why one day before Lata's body was found did he spoil McCartney's character in a statement to Police, adding that it was still not known whether or not Lata had been murdered.
The case continues this afternoon.
