Two witnesses depose against Fr Romano’s statement
the goan I network
MARGAO
The prosecution case in the infamous Velim church attack case suffered yet another major setback when two witnesses deposed before the trial court on Friday that the gold chain of policeman Kuldip was handed over to him by another policeman and not by Fr Romano Gonsalves and the five members of the Velim church.
In the attachment panchanama drawn at the Cuncolim police station, it was mentioned that the two witnesses Premdeep Kushali Desai, a resident of Sidhanagar-Cuncolim and on Gopi Bikaro Desai, a resident of Buinsa-Cuncolim, were introduced to Fr Romano Gonsalves, who is an accused in the case and five other members of the Velim church. The panchanama had further stated that Fr Romano produced a yellow metal chain and stated that the chain was found on the church compound on February 27 by a church employee. It was further stated that the gold chain was checked by a goldsmith and later weighed.
In his examination, panch member Gopi Desai said the gold chain of policeman Kuldip was handed over by the other policeman whose name he does not know. He said the chain was in the possession of the other policeman. He further said that besides the policeman, nobody else was present at the police station. During cross examination, the panch witnesses stated that he did not see any goldsmith and the chain was not weighed in his presence.
In fact, during cross examination by Adv Pritam Moraes, representing Fr Romano, the panch witness said that policeman Kuldip had told him two days in advance that his chain was found that it has to be attached.
Panch witness Premdeep Desai also stated during his deposition that the gold chain of Kuldeep was handed over by another policeman whose name he does not know. Premdeep also stated that he did not see any goldsmith and the chain was not weighed in his presence.
