High Court Overturns Murder Convictions in Goa

In a significant turn of events, the Bombay High Court has acquitted three individuals, Joseph Sequeira, Leon Fernandes, and Mahesh Rampal, in connection with the 2017 Calangute fish market murder case. The acquittals overturn the life sentences previously handed down by the district court in 2017. The division bench found that the prosecution had failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court identified several critical weaknesses in the prosecution's evidence. The reliability of the test identification parade was questioned, with the bench noting that no valid reason was provided for delays in its execution. Furthermore, the recovery of weapons and clothing was deemed questionable, as these items were found in easily accessible locations rather than being concealed.

Adding to the prosecution's challenges, the primary eyewitness turned hostile and later passed away before completing his cross-examination. The court also expressed serious doubts about the testimony of the second eyewitness, whose intoxication at the time of the incident rendered his evidence "extremely unreliable." These cumulative issues led to the decision to acquit the three men.