Killer driver fears racism
Lawyer cites alleged cricket crowd slurs as cloud over extradition
THE runaway drink-driver responsible for killing a Gold Coast student has vowed to front up to court next month, despite his lawyer in India questioning whether he will be safe on the back of a “racist” Test cricket series.
“I am once again asking this court to consider that my client will not be safe in Australia,” Puneet Puneet’s defence lawyer, Kanhaiya Kumar Singal, told the judge in New Delhi’s Patiala House court
where Puneet has been contesting his extradition to Australia since 2013.
“(The) world witnessed that recently when our national cricketers were hurled racial slurs in Australia while playing cricket. In such an atmosphere how will my client be safe?”
During the recently concluded Test series between India and Australia, two Indian players faced alleged racial slurs from the stands in Sydney.
Talking to News Corp, Puneet’s defence lawyer said: “I hope (the) court won’t ignore this incident” and give “due justice to my client”.
Puneet was drunk, speeding and a learner driver when he crashed into Gold Coast nursing student Dean Hofstee in Melbourne on October 1, 2008. Mr Hofstee was attending the Australian University Games.
In February 2009, Puneet pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing Mr Hofstee’s death and negligent driving causing serious injuries to his then 20year-old friend, Clancy Coker, who was severely injured.
A warrant was issued for his arrest six months later after he fled to India and Puneet spent several years on the run until he was captured in 2013.
In 2015, he fled his home town in India and claimed to be too ill to appear at his next court appearance.
Mr Hofstee’s family and friends have consistently implored Puneet to “man up” and front the courts for an extradition hearing.
Puneet, who did not appear in court this week, has used many excuses to defer the hearing, including claiming he had an “unbalanced mind”.
Mr Kumar assured the court his client would be present at the next hearing on February 18 when it will hear the final arguments from Union of India lawyers.
He said technical problems, including a computer server issue, stifled Puneet attending the most recent hearing via video link.
“There was some confusion regarding his appearance today,’’ Mr Kumar said.
“Firstly, the court in the morning said they will take the virtual hearing and then the server issue faced the physical hearing. In such short notice Puneet wasn’t able to attend the court.” the