Murder accused acquitted as court flags lapses in probe

Colva: The south goa additional sessions court has acquitted Melbon Metiu Rodrigues, who was accused of murdering his 24-year-old girlfriend, after Judge Ram S Prabhu Dessai found multiple lapses in the police investigation.According to the prosecution, Rodrigues allegedly strangled his girlfriend, Jennifer Rita Gonsalves, on April 24, 2020, suspecting her of being in a relationship with another man. He was also accused of destroying evidence by burning the T-shirt used in the crime. The case was registered under Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (destruction of evidence) of the IPC.However, Prabhudessai highlighted serious shortcomings in the investigation led by PI Melson Colaco.

The court noted that key witness statements, including those of the victim’s mother and neighbours, were never recorded. The investigating officer also admitted during cross-examination that he had not visited the victim’s home nor attempted to collect CCTV footage from the vicinity.Further, despite a mobile tower close to the crime scene, investigators failed to procure call records that could have established the presence of the accused at the site.

The ashes of the burnt T-shirt, which were recovered during the disclosure panchanama, were not sent for forensic examination, raising further doubts about the prosecution’s claims.The court also flagged irregularities in the arrest. Prabhudessai observed that neither the arrest details were shared nor were the statements of the officers involved in the apprehension recorded. This, the judge remarked, suggested that the prosecution’s version of the arrest was “nothing but a fraud”, and supported the defence’s claim that Rodrigues had voluntarily surrendered.In his order, the judge concluded that the circumstantial evidence presented was insufficient to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. “Though the material raises a slight suspicion that the accused may have committed the offence, suspicion cannot replace proof,” Prabhudessai said while acquitting Rodrigues.