High Court Judge, Justice Thushara Rajasinghe raised serious concerns with DPP lawyer, Swastika Sharma in the rape trial of a former NFP proposed candidate after the second state witness failed to show up this morning.
The 66-year-old man is alleged to have raped and sexually assaulted his 54-year-old sister in law in Nasinu in June last year.
The prosecution and defence wrapped up their examination this morning with the complainant who is the first prosecution witness and the judge then asked Sharma for the second witness to take the stand.
However, the court was informed by the court clerk that the witness was not outside the court.
Justice Rajasinghe then told Sharma that she has to learn a lot of things before she starts a trial.
He told Sharma not to come to court if she doesn't know where her witness is.
Justice Rajasinghe told her to not expect the court to adjourn the matter for her to locate the witness.
Justice Rajasinghe also raised with Sharma whether there is a possibility that prosecution witnesses will talk to each other as the first witness walked out of the courtroom after giving her evidence while the second witness did not turn up.
The trial will continue today.
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