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The Kerala High Court has dismissed a challenge by the accused in the Koodathayi murder case, upholding a lower court’s order to allow a forensic expert’s testimony. The court clarified that admitting this evidence is a procedural step to ensure a fair trial, as the expert's findings were already part of the legal record. The accused retains the full right to cross-examine the witness, ensuring the defense's position remains protected.
What Happened
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a plea filed by Jollyamma Joseph, the primary accused in the Koodathayi cyanide murder case. The petition sought to challenge a trial court’s decision to permit a forensic expert to testify as a witness. This expert’s report is linked to an allegedly forged will, a key document in the ongoing prosecution case.
Justice CS Dias, presiding over the matter on June 5, ruled that the prosecution's failure to initially list the expert as a witness was an unintentional procedural oversight rather than a deliberate attempt to gain an unfair advantage. The High Court determined that because the forensic reports were already part of the official judicial record and the expert analysis had been commissioned before the chargesheet was submitted, admitting this testimony does not prejudice the accused.