7 years on...and still no justice for Sarah

Monday 06 April 2020

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the violent murder of a young Guernseywoman, who was staying on a houseboat in Kashmir, thousands of miles away from her family and most of her friends.

Despite the man accused of murdering Sarah Groves being arrested shortly after her death, her parents and brothers are still waiting to see justice, as his trial has not yet reached a conclusion.

News of Miss Groves' death reached Guernsey early in the morning of Saturday 6 April, 2013.

Her father was woken by a phone call, where the caller told him his 24-year-old daughter was dead.

He had to contact Guernsey Police for confirmation, and, although the local force did not know anything about it at the time, the on duty officers were soon able to tell Vic Groves, and his wife Kate, that their daughter had in fact died, and that her death was being treated as murder.

However, seven years on, they still don't know exactly what happened to her, or who killed her. 

Pictured: Kate and Vic Groves. Their daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Groves, was 24 when she died.

A popular young woman with friends in Guernsey, the UK and further abroad, Miss Groves' death sent shockwaves throughout communities. At the time in Guernsey, her funeral was kept private for her family and close friends, but a memorial service to her was held at St. James with hundreds of people attending.

Her parents have been in the spotlight ever since her death, repeatedly asking for help in bringing the trial of the man accused of her murder to a fair conclusion.

Speaking ahead of today's seventh anniversary, Mr Groves said: "On the night of Friday 5 April/Saturday 6 April 2013, Sarah was brutally murdered in her bedroom on board a houseboat on Dal Lake, Srinagar, Kashmir.

"That was seven years ago and despite the on-going trial of Dutchman Richard de Wit, the truth about what really happened that night has still not been established. In fact, no-one is any the wiser now than they were then."

Mr de Wit denies murder. He has now been held on remand, as his trial continues, for almost seven years. 

Pictured: Richard de Wit was staying on a house boat on Lake Dal, Srinagar, Kashir, alongside Sarah Groves. He denies her murder. 

There have been 184 scheduled hearings in Mr de Wit's trial, many of which have been "farcical in nature and totally unproductive" said Mr Groves.

The trial is currently being conducted under its fourth Judge, its seventh Public Prosecutor and its sixth Defence Counsel.

"Court papers are woefully inadequate," said Mr Groves, who is kept abreast of matters through his appointed representatives in the country. 

"Despite the many setbacks, it's very slowly moving towards a conclusion.

"However, the verdict will be unsafe on the evidence provided to date. Unless key witnesses can be located and brought to court and unless the boatowner and all members of his family are brought back for second cross-examination, the judgment cannot be trusted – either way."

Mr Groves has shared an extract from an email he said he received from a very senior lawyer who was closely involved with the middle stages of the trial, which he says proves that justice for Sarah is "as far away as it ever was".

“The current Judge is going through the motions, ticking off witnesses from the list, but no reasonable observer can have any illusion that what happens is an actual trial geared at the determination of the truth.”

In summary, Mr Groves said: "‘Justice for Sarah’ is as far away as it ever was but we will never give up seeking the truth. As in all such situations, someone knows what happened that night."

There are two court hearings scheduled for this coming week but the corona virus pandemic means they are likely to be cancelled.

"The two hearings scheduled for next week on Wednesday 8 and Thursday 9 April 2020 are unlikely to proceed due to the corona virus lockdown in force throughout India, including Kashmir.

"Further details will be provided when available," said Mr Groves.