Mini Cooper crash: Police take prime accused Suhail to accident spot for evidence collection

Kochi: Police investigating the high-profile Mini Cooper crash that killed three youngsters near Kochi took the prime accused, Suhail, to the accident spot on Thursday as part of evidence collection.

The Angamaly Judicial First Class Magistrate on Wednesday granted police custody of the four arrested accused — Suhail, Ninav, Ameer and Joel until Thursday evening to facilitate further investigation.

Three youngsters aged around 21, including two women, were killed when a speeding car, allegedly driven by Suhail, 19, under the influence of alcohol, rammed their scooter at Nedumbassery near Kochi in the early hours of October 11. The other three accused were also travelling in the car at the time of the accident, police said.

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A medical examination reportedly found a high level of alcohol in Suhail's bloodstream, prompting police to invoke additional charges against him.

As part of the investigation, police took Suhail in a bus to the accident site on the Athani-Airport road on Thursday morning. However, a large crowd had gathered at the location, preventing officers from bringing him out of the vehicle.

Police recorded his account of the accident inside the bus, officials said.

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Investigators also took the accused to bars where they had allegedly consumed alcohol before the incident. The four accused are expected to be produced before the court later on Thursday following the expiry of their police custody.

Earlier, all four had been remanded to the Thrikkakara Borstal School, which houses offenders aged between 18 and 21. The decision sparked widespread criticism.

Family members of the deceased alleged that Suhail's wealthy parents were attempting to influence the investigation. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala subsequently clarified that the decision on where remanded accused are lodged rests with the court.

He assured the families that no favour would be shown to the accused and that justice would be ensured.