Seven eyewitnesses testify in Abhimanyu murder trial

The prosecution on Saturday (October 17) completed the chief examination of seven eyewitnesses as the trial in the Abhimanyu murder case continued in the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court.

The defence will cross-examine them on October 22. For the third consecutive day, all 16 accused appeared in matching attire, face masks, and caps. However, they were made to remove the masks and caps inside the court.

Four witnesses were examined on Saturday. The witnesses stated that the accused created trouble while preparations were under way on the college campus for the reception of freshers.

The accused allegedly turned violent following a dispute over graffiti painted by the Campus Front, the student wing of the Popular Front of India (PFI), on a wall reserved for the Students Federation of India (SFI). The dispute allegedly culminated in the stabbing of Abhimanyu and others. The witnesses also spoke about the change in the appearance of the accused. All the accused were dressed in white shirts and dhotis and had similar hairstyles. They no longer sported beards. The witnesses said it was difficult to identify the accused because of these changes.