GEORGE TOWN: The T Nhaveen murder trial heard in detail why a star witness’ inconsistent remarks before and during the trial called for his credibility to be impeached.
The defence read out in the High Court T Previin’s police report after the fatal bashing of Nhaveen and the witness statements (112 statements) to the police taken by an inspector. Later, the defence read out his testimony in court.
Lead defence counsel Naran Singh told the court that a case law at the Federal Court had established that police reports could be construed as a “former statement” in impeaching witnesses who were not consistent in their statements to the police and court.
Naran highlighted several parts in the statements by Previin related to a brawl that took place at Padang Openg, Bukit Gelugor, in 2017.
He said Previin, on two occasions — in his police report and later, in his 112 statements — never mentioned the Padang Openg incident, but only brought it up in the recent trial.
“Several parts of the evidence Previin gave in court were not in his police report or his 112 statements,” Naran told the court after reading out all the statements given by Previin thus far.
Judge Radzi Abdul Hamid asked the defence to separate Previin’s statements to the police and court testimony and present them in a table form for clarity.
Naran asked for an adjournment to tomorrow to enable him to prepare the information requested. Radzi allowed the request.
Five people are charged with murder in Nhaveen’s death. They are S Gopinaath, 30, J Ragesuthan, 22, S Gokulan, 22, and two other unnamed persons who were juveniles when the offence took place.
They are accused of committing the offence at the Jalan Bunga Raya park between 11pm and midnight on June 9, 2017.
The five are also charged with committing grievous assault on Previin near the Karpal Singh Learning Centre in Bukit Gelugor that night.
The trial continues tomorrow. - FMT
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