Eight depose in Graham Staines murder case

Eight persons including a pastor have deposed in the the second phase of the trial in triple murder case involving Australian Missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons which began at the Khurda District and Sessions court here.
The next hearing was today posted for last week of October. The court has posted the next hearing date to October 28, 29 and 30, CBI counsel Kalicharan Mishra told reporters.
A total of eight persons including Staines driver and pastor of Manoharpur Church have already deposed in the CBI designated court here during the two-day trial.
All the witnesses informed the court that the miscreants had set fire to the vehicle where Staines and his two sons were sleeping on the January 22 night in 1999.

The defense lawyer Bana Bihari Mohanty, however, insisted upon deposition of Gladys Staines, the widow of the Australian Missionary. "We feel that Gladys Staines statement is vital in the case," Mohanty said during hearing.
The Khurda District and Sessions Judge court had been hearing the case after CBI arrested two more accused persons in the triple murder case which took place about 14 years ago. Ghanashyam Mohanta and Ramjan Mohanta were arrested by the investigating agency on May 17 this year.
CBI had filed chargesheet against 18 persons of whom 15 were tried and three were absconding. Of the three, two were nabbed on May 17 and Budhia Nayak was still on the run.

Already Dara Singh alias Rabindra Kumar Pal and Mahendra Hembram have been sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with the killings.