The trial of Scarlett Keeling murder case began on Monday with the first witness, a policeman, deposing before the local court even as defence lawyer pointed out contradictions in his earlier statements.
Constable Gurunath Naik, 29, attached to Anjuna police station, gave his witness before the judge B P Deshpande, reconstructing the events that occurred soon after an unknown caller informed police about an unidentified body lying on the shore.
Naik, the first policeman to see the body lying on Anjuna beach, had earlier deposed on three occasions - twice before Goa Police and once before CBI.
Defence lawyer Ryan Menezes, while comparing Naik's fresh testimony today, cited contradictions in the statement given earlier to Goa police and CBI.
CBI's counsel S R Rivonkar, talking to media after the trial, however, termed these contradictions as "non-fatal" and "minor".
"He has given three statements on different occasions. There are bound to be some differences. They are not fatal. They are minor contradictions," Rivonkar told the media.
CBI books two accused -locals Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho - for drugging, sexually abusing and leaving Scarlet to die at the beach waters on February 17, 2008.
{{/usCountry}}CBI books two accused -locals Samson D'Souza and Placido Carvalho - for drugging, sexually abusing and leaving Scarlet to die at the beach waters on February 17, 2008.
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