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Key Kanishka crash witness was encouraged to get info from convict
Vancouver, Nov 26: A defence lawyer in the Air India trial has said that Canadian Police encouraged the key witness to obtain information from a convicted bomber and his wife.
Vancouver, Nov 26: A defence lawyer in the Air India trial has said that Canadian Police encouraged the key witness to obtain information from a convicted bomber and his wife.
Bill Smart told the court yesterday that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) wanted the woman to talk to Satnam Kaur Reyat, wife of Inderjit Singh Reyat, to gather information for the ongoing investigation.
Inderjit Singh Reyat is the only person convicted for his role in the bombing of Air India flight 182 which killed 329 people on June 23, 1985 and for the blast the same day in which two baggage handlers died at Tokyo's Narita Airport. Smart, representing accused terrorist Ripudaman Singh Malik, quoted minutes from a November 4, 1997, meeting of the RCMP's Air India task force to Cpl. Doug Best.
"(The woman) knows something of Malik's associates and has a trusting relationship with Reyat and (the woman) said she could talk (Inderjit) Reyat into co-operating," the minutes say.
But, best appearing before the court said he did not recall ever specifically asking or having heard the woman say she could talk Reyat or Reyat into co-operating. He also said he didn't record the minutes and isn't sure he made the comment, Canadian media reported. "It might have been something I had wished but I don't recall it," best told the court.
The woman, can't be named under court order, has testified against the accused Malik.
Bureau Report
Inderjit Singh Reyat is the only person convicted for his role in the bombing of Air India flight 182 which killed 329 people on June 23, 1985 and for the blast the same day in which two baggage handlers died at Tokyo's Narita Airport. Smart, representing accused terrorist Ripudaman Singh Malik, quoted minutes from a November 4, 1997, meeting of the RCMP's Air India task force to Cpl. Doug Best.
"(The woman) knows something of Malik's associates and has a trusting relationship with Reyat and (the woman) said she could talk (Inderjit) Reyat into co-operating," the minutes say.
But, best appearing before the court said he did not recall ever specifically asking or having heard the woman say she could talk Reyat or Reyat into co-operating. He also said he didn't record the minutes and isn't sure he made the comment, Canadian media reported. "It might have been something I had wished but I don't recall it," best told the court.
The woman, can't be named under court order, has testified against the accused Malik.
Bureau Report