Local media has been pretty quiet about the Engeline murder case lately. However, the fight to find the true perpetrator for the tragic crime continues.
After scandals involving an Australian man raising money for Engeline’s supposed ransom and questions surrounding the role that Engeline’s adoptive sisters played in the murder, the focus has turned to the pre-trial initiated by Margriet’s lawyers, in protest of police declaring Margriet as an official suspect in Engeline’s murder.
According to Tribun Bali, police has three strong pieces of evidence that strongly points to Margriet’s involvement in the murder—forensics results, reconstruction statements, and an explanation from Agus, a fellow suspect and Margriet’s former maid. Margriet will reportedly bring two expert witnesses to the pre-trial. However, Margriet’s lawyers declined to specify exactly what role those expert witnesses will play.
Margriet’s lawyers are supposedly confident that they will “win” the pre-trial, because they have “proof” that she didn’t commit the murder as suspected by the police. However, they declined to elaborate on what constitutes such “proof,” telling Tribun Bali that they will “leave the decision to the judge.”
The pre-trial is scheduled take place next Monday, July 27 at the Denpasar district court.
No doubt the outcome of the pre-trial is much anticipated by the public and local media. In addition, we suspect that the the showdown between two prominent lawyers, Hotman Paris (representing Agus) and Hotma Sitompoel (representing Margriet) will also get a lot of press time next week.
Photo: Facebook page of Find Angeline – Bali’s Missing Child (now closed)
