New Delhi, Apr 24 (UNI) A city court today recorded the statement of a prosecution witness, who was in-charge of the pre-paid taxi booth, from where the two accused taxi drivers picked Australian tourist Dawn Emily Griggs, raped and then brutally murdered her near Indira Gandhi International Airport in March, 2004.

After hearing the arguments from both the sides, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Vinod Kumar fixed July 18 as the next date of hearing.

The in-charge of the taxi booth, Mahinder Pal, told the court on March 16-17, 2004, Jyotish Prasad and Ashish Singh picked Dawn Emily Griggs, in their cab from Indira Gandhi International Airport to Karol Bagh.

Jyotish and Ashish raped Griggs, attacked her head with a screwdriver and dumped her body barely 200 metres from the Indira Gandhi International Airport and fled from the spot stealing cash.

There were twenty two prosecution witnesses in this case.

On October 1, 2004, the chargesheet had been filed against both the accused Jyotish Prasad and Ashish Kumar Singh. The Delhi police also filed a supplementary chargesheet against both of them on May 26, 2004. The court took the cognizance of the chargesheet and framed charges on October 2, 2004.

They were charged under sections 120-B (Criminal Conspiracy), 302 (Murder), 376-G (Gangrape), 394 (Person causing hurt in attempting to commit robbery) and 397 (Robbery with attempt to cause grievous hurt), 201 (Destruction of Evidence), 404 (Dishonest misappropration of property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The 59-year-old Australian tourist was allegedly raped and murdered brutally by Jyotish and Asish, shortly after she had reached here for a spiritual tour.

UNI XC YA HT2015