It’s not looking too good for Margriet. The adoptive mother’s plea to relieve her from being a suspect in eight-year-old Engeline’s tragic murder was rejected at her pre-trial on Wednesday, Tribun Bali reported.
Amed Peten Sili, the sole judge at Margriet’s pre-trial concluded that Margriet’s plea lacked legal basis and as a result must be “declined in its entirety.” In addition, he also stated that Margriet (or more likely, her lawyers) did not put forward adequate proof to support their arguments, according to Tribun Bali.
Hotman Paris, the lawyer for Agus, welcomed the verdict and told Tribun Bali that it provided a “fresh breeze” for Agus, the family’s former housekeeper who has also been under investigation for Engeline’s death. He supposedly insisted that Agus would only be charged with the offence regarding his role in burying Engeline’s body.
Hotma Sitompoel, the lawyer for Margriet, suprisingly wasn’t too vocal about the verdict, saying that “the judge has a different opinion from us….[now] it’s time to go to trial.” He also refused to comment on whether they were disappointed by the verdict.
As if the pre-trial didn’t provide enough drama, thousands of individuals, supposedly members of the notorious gangs Laskar Bali and Baladika also gathered outside the District Court today, apparently in support of the police “closing Engeline’s case.” An individual also allegedly shouted “reject the pre-trial, punish Margriet!” Police reportedly had water canons in hand in case things got too out of control, but luckily the rival gangs were pretty peaceful in their actions in this instance, according to Merdeka.
Apparently all parties are keen to go to trial as soon as possible. So now it’s time to wait for the next stage in the quest to solve what has become an ongoing and never-ending mystery. Engeline was found buried in the Sanur backyard of her adoptive family in June, nearly a month after they had claimed she was missing.
Photo: Facebook page of Find Angeline – Bali’s Missing Child (now closed)
