Shailendra Kaur could not come to depose in the court today

New Delhi, Apr 29 (UNI) Ms Shailendra Kaur, wife of prime accused Maninder Pal Singh Kohli could not come to the court today to record her statement in the rape and murder of British teenager schoolgirl Hannah Foster.

Ms Kaur, a defence witness in this case, was ordered by the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Kamini Lau, in its earlier order on April 17, to be present in the court today. But she was absent on the plea that, she could not get the air ticket on time to come to India on April 26.

The councel for Ms Kaur, C S Bakshi told the court that on April 15, the Union of India had sent the air ticket by post to Ms Kaur in London, where she is staying. By the time she received the ticket on April 26, the flight had already left for India, the plea forwarded by Mr Bakshi said.

He pleaded for another date to be given for her appearance in the ''interest of justice and fair play.'' He also requested the court to direct the Union of India to provide air tickets to Kaur as well as her children.

Ms Kaur had requested the court to allow her more time till August 2006 for getting her evidence recorded. But the court did not give her more time.

Kohli, facing extradition trial for allegedly raping and murdering British school girl Hannah Foster in Southhampton March 19, 2003, was arrested on July 15, 2003 from Panighata in Siliguri sub-division's Naxalbari area in the Darjeeling district while he was trying to cross over to Nepal.

Kohli was arrested under Sections 376 (Rape) and 302 (Murder) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case would now come up for hearing on May 6.

UNI XC PR KN1913