India - Sarah Groves, 24, British backpacker, murdered on houseboat, Srinagar, 6 April 2013 Dutch tourist arrested

dotr · Apr 6, 2013

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...-to-death-in-India-named-as-Sarah-Groves.html
"Miss Groves, from Guernsey, was 23 years old and had been staying on the New Beauty houseboat, one of hundreds of old British floating hotels on the side of Srinagar's celebrated Dal Lake, for 25 days.

The owner, G.M Shoda, said he and the victim had become friends and she was "like a daughter" to him.

Miss Groves and the Dutch tourist were the only guests staying on the houseboat and had been sitting on the deck until midnight when she went to bed.

Later, at around 2.30 in the morning, the owner's sons heard an argument and screams, and went to investigate"

dotr · Apr 6, 2013

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/324256/british-woman-murdered-srinagar-houseboat.html

"A general alert was sounded across the Valley for the arrest of De-wit Richard, who had left the houseboat in the wee hours Saturday. He was arrested at Qazigund," said Syed Afadul Mujtaba, deputy inspector general of police (DIG) central Kashmir range.
Qazigund in Anantnag district is about 80 km from Srinagar.

"He (Richard) had left all his belongs in the houseboat, and had fled with just his passport. He has been brought to Srinagar for further investigations," the police officer said.

The owner of the "New Beauty" houseboat told IANS that the 24-year-old British woman victim had been staying in the houseboat for nearly two months. The Dutchman had only begun his stay on the boat two days back, in a room adjacent to the British tourist's"

dotr · Apr 6, 2013

http://news.sky.com/story/1074690/india-british-woman-murdered-in-kashmir

"A second man is being questioned after a British woman was found murdered on a houseboat in Indian-administered Kashmir, police have confirmed.

The son of the owner of the houseboat where Sarah Groves, 24, had been staying for up to two months is helping police with their inquiries, according to Sky sources.

Miss Groves, from Guernsey, was found in a pool of blood on the vessel at Srinagar's Dal Lake, a popular tourist destination"

dotr · Apr 6, 2013

http://metro.co.uk/2013/04/06/sarah...sh-tourist-murdered-in-kashmir-india-3585780/
"believe Sarah Groves is dead,’ wrote James Blower. ‘Such a little ray of sunshine and not a bad bone in her body. Taken far too young #devastating’

Matthew Warren said: ‘Thoughts go out to all family and friends of Sarah Groves. Tragic news.’

While another added: ‘Rest in peach Sarah Groves. Thinking of all your family. I’ll never forget our Sarah.’

In a poignant message sent to her before she left, one friend had written on Facebook: ’Glad you’re finally going on your adventure…Make sure you take care always eh and keep your wits about you.’

Sarah replied saying: ‘I’ll try my hardest to keep my wits about me and keep as safe as i can"

dotr · Apr 10, 2013

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/boyfriend-british-woman-murdered-india-1819918
"Sarah's boyfriend, Saeed Ahmed Shoda, said: "I want him to get really big punishment, he made her suffer and I want him to be in hell as well. I do not know why he did this."

Saeed said he spoke to De Wit on two occasions following the murder.

He said: "The first time I said 'I do not want to talk to you', the second time I said 'Why did you do this?' and he said 'I did this' - it made me want to kill him."

Describing Sarah, he said: "She was very kind, very nice, good person, big heart.

"The whole world will see her face and see how innocent she was and kind she was."

Describing how her death had affected him, he continued: "I couldn't really walk and stand up, I really did cry a lot.

"I think now my life is really like shut down.

"I spoke with her parents and I told them I am very sorry for this, I couldn't really take care of her."

dotr · Apr 10, 2013

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...r-of-Sarah-Groves-to-be-tested-for-drugs.html
"The snaps showed Sarah, 24 — found knifed to death on a houseboat in India — working as a test model at a beauty salon near her home.

Fellow traveller Richard de Wit was arrested 45 miles from the boat in Kashmir and has reportedly confessed to last weekend’s killing.

Police are awaiting post mortem results to discover whether Sarah, of St Peter Port, Guernsey, was raped before being stabbed 40 times.

Dutchman De Wit, 43, will be tested by experts to verify claims he was high on drugs."

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...ves-to-be-tested-for-drugs.html#ixzz2Q5M27jHN

dotr · Apr 10, 2013

Very curious as to other locations the accused may have visited .... to (allegedly) inflict 40 stabs wounds takes a certain amount of buildup imo.

Sporky · Apr 10, 2013

This is so sad. So young and to be brutally murdered that way is horrendous.

OkieGranny · May 11, 2015

http://www.itv.com/news/channel/update/2015-04-24/de-wit-trial-resumes-in-india/

The trial of the man accused of murdering Guernsey woman Sarah Groves is due to resume in India. It has been plagued with delays but today the public prosecutor has called all witnesses including Sarah's boyfriend Saeed Ahmed Shoda.

Richard de Wit, who is accused of the murder, is due to be assigned a lawyer. On 31st January 2015 Dutch national de Wit dismissed his Delhi-based legal Counsel leaving him without anyone to defend him in court.

CoverMeCagney · Jun 19, 2015

Looks like Sarah's boyfriend might now be in the frame for her murder, as well as Richard de Wit.

Court resumes June 30th

http://www.itv.com/news/channel/story/2015-01-31/richard-de-wit-murder-trial/

CoverMeCagney · Jul 3, 2015

The 50th time!!

"The court in Srinigar sat for the 50th time today but the case was adjourned yet again until the end of the month. The trial started in June 2013. Out of 46 listed witnesses there are still almost 20 to be processed through the court."

http://www.itv.com/news/channel/story/2015-01-31/richard-de-wit-murder-trial/

CoverMeCagney · Aug 11, 2015

Just updating with the FB page, seems the trial is still stalling...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-For-Sarah/533797416710625

CoverMeCagney · Dec 17, 2015

December 7th marked the 60th court session in this case, it's been adjourned - again - until 27th/28th December.

https://www.facebook.com/Justice-For-Sarah-533797416710625/

OkieGranny · Jan 10, 2016

From December 29:

http://www.itv.com/news/channel/upd...an-are-hoping-key-witnesses-will-be-recalled/

Today will be the 62nd time the court has convened and Sarah's family are hoping a decision will be made to re-question her former boyfriend and his family.

CoverMeCagney · Jan 10, 2016

OkieGranny said:
From December 29:

http://www.itv.com/news/channel/upd...an-are-hoping-key-witnesses-will-be-recalled/

This is just a crazy situation - how can any justice system operate like this??!!

From the few cases I have read where tourists have died in Asia, I am seriously doubting whether anyone will ever get properly convicted for this!

OkieGranny · Feb 12, 2016

http://www.itv.com/news/channel/update/2016-02-12/fears-sarah-groves-murder-trial-could-collapse/

Sarah's father, Vic Groves, has said he fears de Wit's mental heath is "deteriorating" and he may be considered unfit to continue with the trial.

The defendant has been without a lawyer, and his trial has been on hold, since September last year.

CoverMeCagney · Mar 14, 2016

Trial starts again tomorrow but is likely to instantly be adjourned.

FFS.

https://www.facebook.com/Justice-For-Sarah-533797416710625/

CoverMeCagney · Mar 20, 2016

The date of the next court in the case is Tuesday April 5th - one day before the third anniversary of Sarah’s death – 6th April 2013
It is further understood that Richard de Wit is in preliminary discussions with a new lawyer. However, nothing has been finalised at this time. In the event that an appointment is made, a further announcement will be made with details.

https://www.facebook.com/Justice-For-Sarah-533797416710625/

CoverMeCagney · Jul 15, 2016

The court is due to meet again today - for the 77th time since the trial started. Seems Richard De Wit has been pronounced fit to stand trial by the judge (despite other medical and psychological experts saying he is severely mentally ill) but he has just sacked all his legal advisers - again - and is apparently representing himself.

What a horrible mess this case is, over 3 years on and her family are still being dragged through this shambolic rigmarole of a trial.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1058391187584576&id=533797416710625

OkieGranny · Jan 3, 2017

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/artic...es-desperate-to-get-murder-trial-moving-again

Ben Groves says his family is desperate to get his sister's murder trial in India moving again...

A trial started in July 2013 but after 85 hearings and numerous problems with the case, it has reached a stalemate.

"There has been literally no progress for 15 months now, no proceedings have gone ahead, so we're desperate to get the ball rolling again." Ben told Newsbeat.

Ben says there's been a range of "unacceptable reasons" for a lack of progress, including witnesses not showing up and the judge going on holiday.

India - Sarah Groves, 24, British backpacker, murdered on houseboat, Srinagar, 6 April 2013 *Dutch tourist arrested*

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

The fork is mightier than the spoon.

Retired WS Staff

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Retired WS Staff

Well-Known Member

Retired WS Staff

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Retired WS Staff

DNASolves

Online statistics

Forum statistics

India - Sarah Groves, 24, British backpacker, murdered on houseboat, Srinagar, 6 April 2013 Dutch tourist arrested