Originally posted on sciy.org by Ron Anastasia on Fri 02 Jun 2006 03:06 PM PDT
Dear friends,
This is the first time in India that a video-conferenced witness testimony has taken place. It took our Security Task Force more than a year to get it together, obtain all official authorisations and set up both the Indian Embassy in California and the Tindivanam Court building with the necessary equipment..
It worked...!
Hare OM ~
-mauna
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newindpress.com
US national deposes online in murder case
Thursday May 4 2006 00:00 IST
TINDIVANAM:
For the first time in the country, a US citizen has deposed before the
Fast Track Court-II here through video conferencing facility, in
connection with the murder of a Dutch national near Pondicherry more
than a year ago.
Steven Senesac (53) from San Francisco
testified before Judge Dayalan on Tuesday morning. The victim, Sydo Van
Loo, a Dutch national, had been residing in Udumbai village near
Auroville and conducting research on growth of plants.
According
to sources, a gang had barged into Steven's house on August 19, 2003
and attacked him with a sharp weapon. Sydo, who was staying on the
first floor of the same building, rushed to the spot and rescued Steven.
The
Auroville police registered a case and started investigation.
Meanwhile, the gang planned to wipe out Sydo as he was the prime
witness in the attack case. A group attacked Sydo with deadly weapons
and killed him at his residence on January 31, 2004.
Based on
Steven's complaint, the police registered a murder case and arrested
Murali alias Ezhumalai, Raja, Dhanasekaran of Bommaiyar Palayam,
Saravanan of Chinna Mudaliyar Chavadi and Rajakumar of Kuilapalayam.
They were detained at the Central Prison in Cuddalore. The case was
tried at Fast Track Court-II in Tindivanam.
Fearing a bid on his
life, Steven left for the US. The court sent him summons and Steven
expressed his intention to cooperate with the police. However, he was
reluctant to return to India and depose before the court.
Advocate
Kumar, who was appearing for Steven, filed a petition before the
Supreme Court to allow the complainant depose before the court through
video conferencing facility.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court
granted permission for conducting the proceeding through video
conferencing. On Tuesday, Steven appeared before the judge online and
testified.
Prime accused Murali and Rajkumar were escorted from the Central Prison with tight security and produced before the judge.
Ruthlingan
Lincoln, Consul from American Consulate, and Hans Ramaker of the
Netherland Consul General, Chennai, were also present at the court.
Attachment: