Me Siddhartha Hawoldar, lawyer for Dylan Bryan Josue Carman, prosecuted alongside Wazil Ally Meerkhan before the Assize Court for assault and battery causing the death of police officer Dimple Raghoo, but without intention to kill, described the case as “unfortunate incident which occurred in haste”. “Our clients had no intention of killing anyone. This tragedy happened in a hurry. There was the death of a person, which we all regret,” he told Defimedia.info this Wednesday.
The ongoing trial
Wazil Ally Meerkhan, 29, and Dylan Bryan Josue Carman, 33, are currently on trial before the Criminal Court. Initially charged with homicide and attempted murder, they pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of battery causing death without intent to kill.
The facts date back to November 24, 2020, in the parking area of the Bo’Valon shopping center, in Mahébourg, where police officer Dimple Raghoo, aged 38, lost her life.
An operation gone wrong
This tragedy, which had a profound impact on the police force, occurred while constable Dimple Raghoo, assigned to the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU) South, was participating in an undercover mission. The objective was to arrest individuals suspected of drug trafficking.
During a controlled delivery operation, Dimple Raghoo and her colleague, police officer Gilbert Benoit Arlanda, posed as traffickers in order to conclude a transaction involving around 600 g of synthetic drugs for a sum of Rs 500,000.
The suspects, who arrived in a Honda driven by Wazil Ally Meerkhan with Dylan Bryan Josue Carman on board, were confronted by the police once the transaction was concluded. At that point, the undercover agents revealed their identities and attempted to make the arrest.
The tragic facts
Instead of surrendering, the driver, Wazil Ally Meerkhan, allegedly drove off, rushing towards the police officer and her colleague who were on foot.
Gilbert Benoit Arlanda was hit first. Dimple Raghoo was knocked down and dragged a long distance to the main road in Beau-Vallon, her clothes getting caught on the vehicle. The two accused fled the scene after the incident but were arrested by police soon after.
The trial of Wazil Ally Meerkhan and Dylan Bryan Josue Carman is currently taking place before the Assize Court.
Vidéo : Rajenee Panchoo
