Ellah Joy witness identifies Griffiths

PROSECUTION witness Richard Ian Bruce Bansuan once again took the witness stand yesterday  for the continuation of his cross examination in the kidnapping and murder of the 6 years old Ellah Joy Pique last year.

Defense lawyers tried to question the witness’s credibility and cast doubt on his account that he saw  one of the suspects Charles Ian Griffiths throw a sack into a cliff near Sayaw beach in Barili.

Lawyer Julius Entice said Bansuan’s claims of seeing Griffiths was questionable.  How could Bansuan see clearly when the back door of the Pajero opens to the right thus blocking any possible view from afar.

Entice also cited Bansuan’s earlier affidavit from the Regional Trial Court branch 14 which does not coincide with Bansuan’s sworn testimony.

Bansuan admitted the “changes” in his testimonies.

Entice added that through the cross examination they were able to quash Bansuan’s account of what he saw that particular night.

“He is not a credible witness,” Entice said.

Earlier, Bansuan’s cross examination was cut short when he suffered an asthma attack. It was rescheduled but was again postponed as he was reportedly admitted to a hospital on his way to court for the same health emergency.

Bansuan testified that he saw a man dump a “sack” from a parked Pajero into a remote cliff in Sayaw beach, Barili as he was coming home from a friend’s party on February 8 last year.

He identified the man as Charles Ian Griffiths who is the partner of accused Bella Ruby Santos.

Griffiths, 48 has returned to London in June last year, days before a warrant for his arrest was handed down by the court.

He left behind his 35-year-old partner who is facing trial for the kidnap-slay of the schoolgirl.

The next hearing is set on August 7. /Katreena Bisnar, Correspondent