Of ‘stock’ panch witnesses

Of ‘stock’ panch witnesses
Preetu Nair | TNN

Panaji: In the Supriya Lotlikar murder case, the police had Amstrong Rodrigues and Leo Moraes who were crucial witnesses as they were present when the body was recovered by the police. However, the court termed them as “stock panch witnesses” and refused to place any reliance on their evidence.
The Supreme Court has contended that where a panch witness has stood as such a witness in 5 or 6 cases he was actually a stooge in the hands of the police and no reliance could be placed on the evidence.
Amstrong admitted in court that he had acted as a panch witness in two to three cases of the Margao police station and in two cases of the Cuncolim police station all pertaining to recovery panchanamas.
He also stood as a panch witness in about eight cases at Margao police station from 2002 to 2004.
The role of Leo was also under scrutiny especially after the case’s first investigating officer police sub inspector Sudesh Naik stating saying he didn’t remember seeing Leo or Amstrong at the spot when the body was recovered.

June 8, 2008, The Times of India, Goa edition