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former bouncer at Hugo's Café, Joko Kurniawan, said there were more than four people involved in the assault and murder of chief Sgt. Heru Santoso, a member of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus) Group 2.

The incident was part of the motives that triggered the attack by Kopassus members against four detainees entrusted by the Yogyakarta Police at the Cebongan Penitentiary in Sleman, Yogyakarta, in March.

'I don't know how many but there were more than eight assailants,' Joko, a mitigating witness in the trial involving second sergeants Ucok Tigor Simbolon and Sugeng Sumaryanto and First Cpl. Kodik, told the II-11 Yogyakarta Military Court on Monday.

The Yogyakarta Police, however, have only arrested four suspects in the murder case which took place in the early hours of March 19. The four suspects were shot and killed by Ucok, assisted by his colleagues.

The suspects were Hendrik Angel Sahetapi (Deki), Yohanes Juan Mambait (Juan), Gameliel Yermianto Rohi Riwu (Adi) and Adrianus Candra Galaja (Dedi).

'This is a state of law, but why have Deki's friends yet to be caught [by police],' said military prosecutor Lt. Col. Budiharto.

Joko said Deki and his friends had always patronized Hugo's Café in a group of at least 10 people. In a week, the group could come to the café for up to four times, he added.

Joko said they often cause commotions, such as breaking glasses and bottles. The group also wished to become security guards at the café but was turned down.

'When the incident occurred, I saw the group was in an argument with Heru after they knocked shoulders. I then held Deki, and a brawl ensued, but I was unclear who was involved. Someone from Dedi's right handed a bottle to Deki which he used to hit Heru's head,' said Joko.

Joko and another security guard were not able to separate them because more of Deki's friends arrived and joined the brawl by hitting, trampling and throwing glasses and bottles at the victim. Deki then stabbed Heru's chest.

Heru came to the café with two of his friends who did not help him in the fight. The identities of the two men were still unknown.

Joko said when the incident took place, the café's operation permit was still on trial as a murder case had occurred two months earlier. Officers from the East Depok Police were still securing the front of the cafe when the incident occurred.

'To me, Deki's group had committed a heinous murder,' said Joko.

Yogyakarta Police spokeswoman Adj. Sr. Comr. Anny Pujiastuti said the witness could say so but the judges would carry out cross examination. She said there were only four people recorded on the café's CCTV.

Criminal law expert at Gadjah Mada University Edward Oemar Syarief Hiariej also testified for the second and third dossiers.

Lawyers of the defendants in the second and third dossiers produced Edward to testify whether the defendants could be implicated in the planned murder together with those in the first dossier.

The trial will adjourn on Tuesday to examine defendants in the first and second dossiers followed by examination of evidence.