Taxi driver acquitted in 5 year old fatal accident case due to lack of evidence
Vasco: Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Vasco acquitted a taxi driver from Mangor Hill in the case of an accident that happened five years ago.
On that fateful day, the accused Santosh Pujari was driving his car from Mangor Hill towards Fakir Gali when he hit a minor boy named Sarvesh Reddy. The boy later died during treatment at Goa Medical College, Bambolim. During the trial, closing arguments were presented by lawyer Savio Noronha and Assistant Public Prosecutor Colman Rodrigues.
Noronha argued that the point of impact depicted on the sketch was not reliable. Therefore, no conclusion of haste or carelessness could be drawn. He also pointed out the delay in recording the statements of eyewitnesses and the ‘interest’ of witnesses examined by the prosecution, making their testimony unreliable.
Citing a Supreme Court judgment, he argued that if a person crosses the road suddenly, no matter how slowly the vehicle is moving, it may not be able to avoid an accident.
Noronha also highlighted the flawed investigation by the investigating officer and contradictions in the evidence. Based on these arguments, the JMFC acquitted the accused of offenses under sections 279 and 304-A of the IPC.
