Raymond Davis refuses to receive charge sheet

LAHORE - Double murder accused, US national Raymond Davis on Friday refused to take the copy of charge-sheet during the trial of the case as Additional District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Yousuf Aujal on Friday announced March 3 as the date for framing charges against Raymond who had shot dead two Pakistanis on January 27, 2011 at Qartaba Chowk Lahore. Law-enforcement agencies cordoned off the premises of Kot Lakhpat Jail for proceedings of the case as heavy contingents of police kept every unwanted person away from passing near the jails outside area of 400 meters. The trial was conducted inside the Kot Lakhpat Jail considering the Punjab Home Departments application in this regard that it was must to conduct the trial of the case inside keeping in view the security concerns. The court had already announced the trial of the Davis case in jail against the application submitted in this regard. Local and international media men and public was not allowed to observe the proceedings of the case and only US Consul General Lahore, Carmella Conroy monitored and observed the proceedings of the case. 'The court ordered and permitted Raymond Davis to appear with his counsel on next date of hearing when he once again firmly stated before the court that this court was not authorised to decide his case, as he also informed the court in written that he deserved the diplomatic immunity, said court sources. The court after hearing Raymond also asked the State officials concerned to appear before the court on next fixed date to hold a debate on claim of the diplomatic immunity being presented by the Raymond repeatedly in courts. Lahore High Court had already directed Foreign Ministry to inform the court on March 14, 2011 on a question whether Raymond Davis deserve diplomatic immunity or not. Raymond refused to receive the copy of charge-sheet when it was presented to him as prepared in Urdu language. He said that he could not and unable to understand Urdu, then on his excuse he was again given copy of charge-sheet in English but he refused to receive it also. Jail sources also claimed that Carmella Conroy was permitted to have a meeting with the Raymond Davis before the trial of the case started on Friday. As per further details, Deputy Prosecutor General Abdul Samad appeared and attended the proceedings from Prosecution Department side. About 30 witnesses had recorded their statements in the double murder case. Asad Butt also appeared in the trial from the side of deceased Fahim and Faizan. As per witnesses statements Davis opened firing at Faizan and Fahim sitting in his car, and he also came out of his car and shot Faizan twice. After shooting dead, Faizan and Fahim, he connected someone through a wireless to rescue him also from the crime scene, said witnesses statements.

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