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	Nun Murder Case: CBI Produces Former Police Officer's Admission in Court By John Mary The Peninsula (Qatar) December 11, 2008 http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=India&month=December2008&file= World_News20081211103345.xml The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrayed 10 witnesses in the Kerala nun's murder case, citing as crucial evidence a former police officer's admission that he misrepresented facts under instruction from high-ups to convert the crime into suicide. The CBI submitted the probe details in the High Court yesterday as directed by the court while hearing bail applications of all the accused, Fr Thomas M Kottoor, Fr Jose Puthrukayil and Sister Sephy, of murdering Sister Abhaya, an inmate of St Pius X Convent in Kottayam on March 27, 1992. According to the CBI, former additional sub inspector V V Augustine, the first police official to reach the scene of the crime, admitted that although there were serious injuries on the body, he did not record them. An inspection of the convent kitchen and the premises of the well where the nun's body was found also bore evidence of the crime. But he burked all this as directed by a senior police official. Intriguingly, Augustine committed suicide recently as the probe reached a crucial stage and a note found near the body blamed the CBI for his fate. The CBI responded by saying it was mysterious and called for a probe. The others on the witness list included three priests, two cooks at the convent, a photographer, a neighbour and a thief who happened to see two men going up the convent stairs on the night of the crime. It was the first time that the CBI submitted the probe details as Justice K Hema wanted to know the precise grounds on which the agency opposed the bail applications of the accused. According to the CBI, Fr Jose Chazhikadan, Fr Baby Michael and Fr Pulikkottil testified that the accused priests had been regular visitors to the convent. Both used to leap over the convent wall at night, the CBI quoted other witnesses as saying. The CBI pointed out that Saju P Mathew, the neighbour, had spotted Fr Kottoor's scooter parked outside the convent around 11.30pm during his late-night study. But the scooter had disappeared the next morning. The photographer, under the orders of the ASI, had taken 10 pictures of the body in different angles and four of them, exposing grave wounds, were taken by the police but not handed over to the CBI and were probably destroyed, the CBI submitted. The CBI has also recorded statements by cooks Achamma and Thresiamma-and watchman Chellapadas. The Court will hear petitioners' counsel on the bail applications today.
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