Singapore: Mumbai student on trail for murder

Singapore, May 25: A Singapore Magistrate has decided to put a Mumbai student on trial for attempted murder of a Singapore businessman and his two maids last June.

The trial of Batla Jatin Navin, a 21-year old Polytechnic student in Singapore, has been scheduled at the High Court for July 2-13, according to a report in the Straits Times.

Magistrate Denise Wong said the prosecution has produced sufficient evidence to try the Indian national.

If convicted, Batla faces possible life imprisonment for stabbing 72-year old Manik Shahani in his house at 0100 hours on June 30, 2006 for attainded murder.

Batla is also accused of having repeatedly slashed Shahani's two maids and wrongfully restraining his 37-year old daughter Mumta Manik Shahani.

The prosecution intends to call 53 witnesses to testify against him.

Batla's mother, who had flown in from Mumbai to hear yesterday's inquiry against her only son, fainted outside the courtroom. She was treated at a General Hospital and later discharged.

UNI