KOCHI: A crucial statement in the settlement agreement between Freddy and the Republic of Italy could sabotage the entire prosecution efforts in the Enrica Lexie case. Freddy, the prime witness in the case, stated that he was “sleeping at the time of the incident. At 4.30 pm, he got up from deep sleep upon hearing the noise of firing”.Freddy, who turned hostile in the criminal case before the High Court, came up with a completely new version of the killing. The agreement even accuses one of the victims for violation of driving rules. One of the victims, Jelestine, drove the vessel even though he did not have licence. The statements made by Freddy through the settlement agreement could completely turn the case in the favour of the marines.Rubbishing reports of the Coast Guard and investigating officers that no warning shots were fired, the signed settlement agreement claimed that “Freddy had seen continuous firing in air, blowing of horns, siren and flashing signals”.The Coast Guard had also stated that the incident happened during broad daylight and search light would not be visible to the boat crew. In another remark, drastically different from the earlier version, Freddy stated that the fishing boat St Antony was moving at a high speed. “The fishing boat was running at a high speed and was dangerously approaching another vessel. Jelestine was sitting on the driving seat and was not doing anything. The boat had reached dangerously close to the vessel. It so happened that Jelestine went off to sleep while driving, as he was fishing the whole night with the other fishermen,” the settlement agreement elaborated the event. The Coast Guard had earlier found that the fishing boat with a maximum speed of 10 KN and fishing in area could not result into a close quarter situation with Enrica Lexie, which is capable to cruise at 18-20 KN, unless the vessel does not takes any action against the closing-in fishing boat. The statement stated that “Freddy was shocked to see Jelestine on the driving seat as the latter did not have a licence. And the person with a licence was sleeping. At the time the boat was in the high seas. Freddy intervened as there was a risk of collusion between the boat and the vessel. He took charge of the boat and with utmost difficulty, manoeuvred the boat to further high seas. Freddy noticed two bullets only -- one hitting on the top of the boat and the other on the gas cylinder kept inside the wheel house. Jelestine had not switched on the masthead light on the boat. After the incident, Freddy turned the boat towards the territorial waters of India”.
Comments
0 comment