Police investigators on Friday said it has been proved that Raymond Davis, the undercover USZ operative held for killing two Pakistanis in Lahore last month, did not act in self-defence but was guilty of “cold-blood murder”. The Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) said at least one of the men was running away. He said investigators would strongly press murder charges against Raymond Davis, 36, who was sent on a 14-day judicial remand by a local court earlier Friday. “We have enough evidence to prove that it was a cold-blooded murder. Eyewitnesses have told the police that Davis kept shooting even when one of the men was trying to flee. “It was an intentional murder”, Aslam Tareen told reporters while addressing a news conference at his office on Friday.
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The cold blooded killer Raymond Davis |
Eyewitness account, evidences from the crime scene and the forensic report proved that Davis intentionally shot dead Faheem and Faizan as he fired multiple shots on the motorcyclists. The investigators have established that the pistol recovered from the one of the men was not cocked. The police chief said that Davis’ plea (of self-defence) has been rejected by police investigators as he gave no chance to the motorcyclists to survive. “As per evidence, there were no fingerprints found on the triggers of the pistol recovered from one of the motorcyclists. The forensic tests also showed all the bullets were in the magazine and not in the chambers. “This indicates that neither the men cocked the pistol nor did they point their weapon at Davis”, the CCPO said. Both were shot in the back — one of them was shot trying to run away, he added. He said that an incomplete challan against the accused under section 302 of the PPC was submitted in the court while the police are still waiting for a couple of reports in this case. He said a team comprising senior officers under his supervision carried out investigation into purely on merit. He said Raymond Davis had been coming to Pakistan frequently and it was his 10th visit. The CCPO said the motive behind the killings was yet to be established.
To a query, the police chief said that the investigation team had recovered a GPS tracker, mobile phones, wireless sets, a first-aid kit and photographs of sensitive area from Davis possession. Tareen said that the USZ consulate officials were still reluctant to turn in the men in the vehicle that crushed another youth to death. “We have forwarded a fifth reminder to the federal authorities, through the provincial government,” he added.
Separately, police on Friday morning tried to dodge the media by sending an empty armoured vehicle to the Cantt courts to avoid coverage, while the USZ national was produced before the magisterial court of Aneeq Anwar in Model Town for his 14-day judicial remand. DSP Old Anarkali Safdar Raza Kazmi produced the handcuffed Davis in an armoured vehicle before the court amidst tight security. A heavy contingent of police and commandos cordoned off the courts before Davis’ arrival. No one was allowed to enter the court premises except the magistrate. Entry of all courts employees, including judicial officers, was barred until the Davis proceedings were over. Police had produced Davis in the Cantt courts to obtain his physical remand on two previous occasions.
Investigation Officer (IO) Inspector Munir Ahmed informed the magisterial court that the accused had confessed his crime during interrogations, and evidence in this regard had been made part of the case record. The IO also submitted an incomplete challan of the accused and requested the magistrate to send Raymond to jail on a judicial remand as his physical remand had completed as per law. Advocate Hassam Qadir appeared for Davis and he submitted an application, contending that his client enjoyed diplomatic immunity. He requested the court to hold in-camera proceedings of the case. The court sought comments from the Prosecution Department by February 25 on the plea of the counsel. On the issue of immunity, the court said the matter is pending with the Lahore High Court (LHC). The judge directed police to produce Davis again on February 25 along with a complete challan.
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