GOA: Fresh twist to St Cruz double murder Case.
PANJIM: In a startling disclosure made by a key witness into the Santa Cruz double murder case, Norman Fernandes and his sister Noreen Fernandes e Vaz, who along with her mother- in- law were the two women killed in the last week’s attack, had met a priest together barely 20 to 30 minutes before the murders on September 2.
The brother and sister had been to meet with the St Cruz parish priest as they were disturbed over an anonymous letter casting aspersions on Norman's character and a property related matter being circulated in Bambolim and St Cruz villages.
Police sources said the priest in his statement has expressed his doubts about how the brother could have turned to his sister and attacked her with a knife in less than half an hour after they both met him and been perfectly normal.
The revelation has sprung a surprise on police whose investigation has also come under the scanner because they have not probed Noreen’s husband Edgar's role merely on the basis of the statement of his father Mathias that his son was the victim and when there are no eye- witnesses to the actual murder. In fact, Edgar has been discharged from GMC and the police have taken his statement narrating his version of events. He has, as has been reported, cases of cheating and vehicle theft against him and there was a verbal complaint against him by Noreen with the previous women's commission on domestic violence and harassment and she was being counseled by a former member of the commission. Neighbours and villagers speak openly about his reported gambling too; as per police records, he had earlier failed to respond to summons under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act for bouncing of cheques issued by him.
The parish priest has reportedly told police that Noreen had approached him on that fateful evening and discussed the matter of the anonymous note with him.
“ The priest then called up Norman and asked him to come to the church as his sister was already there,” said a source quoting the witness’ statement. Norman went to the St Cruz church where he and his sister Noreen were counseled by the priest that the anonymous letter was obviously an attempt to provoke him and he should not get disturbed over such a petty, vicious attempt. According to villagers of Santa Cruz told to media, Mathias was suspected to have been behind such notes in the past. “ Both Norman and Noreen left the church together having seemingly accepted the priest's counsel. Their behavior was perfectly normal,” the source said.
It was about 20 minutes thereafter that the priest was told about the double murder. He rushed to the spot where he saw Noreen in a pool of blood. He took Noreen to the Goa Medical College and Hospital. Norman, who has been made a prime accused by police for allegedly killing his sister and her mother- in- law Aurita, is undergoing treatment for “ self inflicted injuries” at GMC under police guard. Norman’s statement, incidentally, has still not been taken by police.
Interestingly, it has also emerged that Norman has sent a message from GMC to the parish priest to “ take care of his four- year- old niece”. Family sources told to media that while Norman and Noreen’s mother was on her deathbed, she had asked her son to take care of his niece as she was aware of the troubled marriage of Edgar and Noreen. In fact, that the sister brother duo was not in bad terms is also evident from the fact that Norman had gifted Noreen a sewing machine a few days before the fateful night as she was learning to sew professionally.
There have also been conflicting versions on the number of people, the so- called “ guests from Maharashtra” present in the house with police claiming there were three guests whilst villagers say there were around five men present on September 2 besides those belonging to the Vaz family and Norman. Police refused to disclose the identity of these “ guests” saying they were witnesses.
According to sources, the priest who took Noreen to GMC has said she had just one, fatal cut on the neck which looked to be the handiwork of a professional and not the slash of a knife used in rage or if a heated argument got violent.
Herald investigations have also raised questions as to why Edgar or his father Mathias did not call up the police control room or the police station when Norman, according to Mathias’ version of events, entered the house verandah and apparently questioned the father- son duo on the anonymous pamphlet. In fact, some newspaper offices reportedly got calls before the police, though police refuse to confirm or deny this.
Mathias’ statement that he has decided he would not seek punishment for Norman but instead leave it to the State to fight the case after alleging that Norman inflicted injuries on himself after stabbing the two women and his son has also raised eyebrows.
Police have not succeeded to locate the weapon of assault which could be the key evidence during the case trial. “ Fingerprints on the assault weapon will take us to the real culprit,” said a police source.
Meanwhile, according to the police, the four- year- old daughter of Noreen has given a statement that she saw her uncle and parents argue on the fateful day from the first floor of the house.
“ But when she came down to see what was happening she only saw the bodies in pools of blood,” said a police officer said quoting the child’s statement. Mathias too has made a similar statement.
There has, therefore, been no eyewitness to the actual murder. The “ guests” of Edgar who are among 20- odd witnesses whose statements have been recorded by police reportedly fled from the spot during the argument.
Edgar, meanwhile, even sent a message to the Herald asking not to publish anything on this case.
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