Mere Delay In Eyewitness Statement Can't Result In Rejecting Their Testimonies: Supreme Court
NDTV
The Supreme Court said if witnesses felt terrorised and frightened and did not come forward for some time, the delay in recording their statements stood adequately explained.
Mere delay in recording the statements of eyewitnesses cannot result in rejection of their testimonies, the Supreme Court has said while dismissing an appeal by four people challenging their conviction in a murder case.
A bench headed by Justice UU Lalit said the material on record definitely establishes the fear created by the accused persons.
"It is true that there was some delay in recording the statements of the eyewitnesses concerned but mere factum of delay by itself cannot result in rejection of their testimonies," the bench, also comprising Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Bela M Trivedi, said.
The top court said if witnesses felt terrorised and frightened and did not come forward for some time, the delay in recording their statements stood adequately explained.