Saturday, October 14, 2017

Rajesh and Nupur Talwar: India: (Aftermath (7): London-based DNA expert Dr. Andre Semikhodskii, a defence witness at the 2013 trial, castigates the prosecution's forensic evidence, in Times Now story headed: 'Decision was made long ago that Rajesh, Nupur Talwar be found guilty.'...""When I came here and saw the situation, I thought that the decision is already written. It (was) just basically that we have to go through the motion until the end of the trial. That's what my understanding was." When asked what made him think like this, the DNA expert said that he found the behaviour of the prosecutor very strange. Giving an example, Semikhodskii recalled that despite requesting the prosecutor "many many times" to "wear gloves", key pieces of evidence were touched with "bare hands". The doctor further mentioned how Indian forensic experts flouted international standard guidelines from labelling to storing key evidence. A lot of procedures should have followed and in my point of view, they were not diligent, said Semikhodskii. He also recounted that he had asked for a lot of things to be provided with while he was investigating the case. "And the Indian Supreme Court indicated that these things have to be provided to us, but they never...you know, prosecution never provided what we asked for." A lot of things that should have been done, were not done. "A lot of examination, DNA analyses, for eg of khukri...were not done. They tried to destroy the evidence by touching it. This should not be done. And when I read the witness statements of the doctors...there were a lot of problems."



QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"In the trial, I could see so many gaps.  "So many instances where the prosecution, in my point of view did not do what they had to do. Had they done that, the Talwars would have been acquitted straight away."

Dr. Andre Semikhodskii.

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STORY: "Decision was made long ago that Rajesh, Nupur Talwar be found guilty," published by Times Now on October 13, 2017.

 GIST: A day after the Allahabad High Court acquitted the Talwar couple in the Aarushi murder case, London-based DNA expert Dr Andre Semikhodskii on Friday expressed his happiness and said justice prevailed at the end. Dr Semikhodskii had appeared as the defence witness in the 2008 Noida double murder case in 2013 and given his opinion on the case-related forensic documents provided by the CBI to the Talwars. In an exclusive conversation with TIMES NOW, Semikhodskii said although the acquittal verdict is four years late, justice prevailed in the end. "In the trial, I could see so many gaps," said the London-based doctor, adding: "So many instances where the prosecution, in my point of view did not do what they had to do. Had they done that, the Talwars would have been acquitted straight away." The doctor added that he did not come across any medical evidence which suggested any sexual activity between Aarushi and Hemraj. "There was none...none whatsoever." In a sensational claim, Semikhodskii said while investigating the case, he felt that the "decision was made long ago that these people should be found guilty". "When I came here and saw the situation, I thought that the decision is already written. It (was) just basically that we have to go through the motion until the end of the trial. That's what my understanding was." When asked what made him think like this, the DNA expert said that he found the behaviour of the prosecutor very strange. Giving an example, Semikhodskii recalled that despite requesting the prosecutor "many many times" to "wear gloves", key pieces of evidence were touched with "bare hands". The doctor further mentioned how Indian forensic experts flouted international standard guidelines from labelling to storing key evidence. A lot of procedures should have followed and in my point of view, they were not diligent, said Semikhodskii.  He also recounted that he had asked for a lot of things to be provided with while he was investigating the case. "And the Indian Supreme Court indicated that these things have to be provided to us, but they never...you know, prosecution never provided what we asked for." A lot of things that should have been done, were not done. "A lot of examination, DNA analyses, for eg of khukri...were not done. They tried to destroy the evidence by touching it. This should not be done. And when I read the witness statements of the doctors...there were a lot of problems." "Unfortunately, that is what happened." Semikhodskii told the channel that an analysis of the statements of the experts suggest that there "was a big possibility that one individual is the alleged perpetrator of the crime. The Nepali guy...he had...the pillow with a droplet of blood which belonged to Aarushi in Krishna's house and obviously these blokes....Number 2, the murder weapon was not identified properly."  "What the CBI said was the murder weapon (dental scalpel) was inconsistent with the injuries which both victims had and then it was the khukhri, which was a possible murder weapon, was not properly analysed or wasn't analysed at all."  However, he said he was "thousand percent" convinced that Nupur and Rajesh Talwar were not guilty."

The entire story can be found at:
http://www.timesnownews.com/india/video/aarushi-talwar-murder-case-rajesh-talwar-nupur-talwar-dasna-jail-2008-noida-double-murder-case-1/106541

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy; Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.