In the case of the murder of Stephen Daniel Collet (Eddy) that occurred on April 21, 2018, the preliminary investigation began at the Port Mathurin court on April 20 before Magistrate R. K. Hurdowar and continued the following day. The two defendants in this case, Jean Patrice Azie and Benoit Ravina (Tigro) were present in court. About forty witnesses were summoned in this case. Among them are the forensic doctor Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, the doctor on duty at the QEH hospital who witnessed the death of the victim, police officers, the representative of ‘Mauritius Telecom’, the two brothers of the victim, Stephano Collet and Ezekiel Collet, and other witnesses. The case will be heard again on July 21. And at the end of this exercise, the Magistrate will have to either give his verdict after a few days, or send the case to the assizes in Mauritius for sentencing. As a reminder, Stephen Daniel Collet, a former resident of Trèfles, was found by his brother Stephano Collet, lying unconscious in a pool of blood on a track road a few meters from his home. And according to Sudesh Kumar Gungadin, the victim had succumbed to a fracture of the skull, caused by a violent blow that he would have received at the back of the head, and which caused a sinking and a burst of the skull. This also caused an important internal hemorrhage. A blow that had been struck with great force using a piece of wood or a metal object. The exhibits were also presented in court. In particular, the clothing worn by the victim at the time of the events, as well as that of the accused. The two accused retained the services of Me Rex Stephen and Me Avinesh Dayal to ensure their defense.
During his hearing, Stephano Collet, told what happened in his presence on the day of the tragedy. It should be noted that at the time of the facts, rumors had circulated that the vehicle of a politician, a failed candidate in the last regional elections, would have been involved in this case. But in court, a police officer who had taken samples from the vehicle certified that no traces of blood or accident had been detected on the vehicle. Therefore, the politician’s testimony was not necessary. Other witnesses, including the victim’s other brother, Ezekiel Collet, will be heard on July 21.
