Russian rape case: Witness turns 'hostile'

MARGAO: The prosecution on Thursday prayed before the district and sessions court to declare a prime witness in the Russian rape case as hostile for making contradictory statements in the trial against local politician John Fernandes.
The plea was made by the prosecution as the witness, a friend of the Russian victim, changed her statement. During her cross-examination on Thursday, the witness said that Fernandes had dropped her at her rented premises after dropping the victim at her place.Earlier, the witness had stated that Fernandes had reached her home first and subsequently proceeded to drop the victim. This prompted the prosecution to declare the victim as hostile. Fernandes, who is still in judicial custody, was arrested by the police for allegedly raping a 25-year-old Russian woman at Colva on December 1, 2009, after spiking her drinks.