Yameen Rasheed's murder trial: three witnesses refuse to give testimonies

The Criminal Court has concluded the state witnesses hearings in the murder trial of social media activist and blogger Yameen Rasheed, after three of the witnesses refused to testify.

During the trial hearing on Monday, state attorneys revealed that the remaining three anonymous witnesses had refused to give their testimonies following which they requested to proceed with the trial.

Testimonies were taken from two officers who had respectively conducted raids in the residences of two accused, Ismail Rasheed and Hussain Ziyad, at the hearing.

Scene of crime reports after said raids were also presented at the hearing.

The presiding judge over the case, Ali Rasheed had decided to proceed with the trial after Ziyad’s lawyer stated that he does not wish to question the officer who searched his residence. However, a testimony was taken from the officer who raided Ismail Rasheed’s residence.

The officer revealed that “army” outfits were found inside Rasheed’s residence as well as a laptop and mobile phone.

Further, Judge Rasheed revealed that defendant testimonies will be taken during the months of December and January.

As such, a hearing will be held to present documented evidence on 7 January, which will be followed by a summary statement hearing on 15 January and a verdict hearing has been scheduled for 30 January.

Yameen was stabbed to death at the stairwell of his apartment building, Maafannu Spatula, brutally on 23 April 2017. The state raised murder charges on six individuals; Ismail Haisham Rasheed, Hussain Ziyad, Ismail Rasheed, Hassan Shifaz, Mohamed Dhifran, and Ahmed Zihan Ismail