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Prosecutors will present 67 witnesses against Jessica in next trial
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Defendant Jessica Kumala Wongso (second left) walks out of the courtroom after attending the first hearing of the Wayan Mirna Salihin murder case at the Central Jakarta District Court on June 15. (Antara/M. Agung Rajasa)
C
entral Jakarta District Court prosecutors have said they will call 67 witnesses to the stand in the trial of murder suspect Jessica Kumala Wongso.
The witnesses will be presented to the court on June 21, prosecution team leader Ardito Muwardi said on the first day of the trial on Wednesday, without giving further details about the witnesses' identities.
Prosecutors accuse Jessica of committing premeditated murder by spiking the coffee of her friend Wayan Mirna Salihin with a lethal dose of cyanide at the Olivier Cafe in Grand Indonesia mall in January.
Ardito said that suspicion toward Jessica arose after police noticed her blank reaction when Mirna started convulsing and fainted after drinking her coffee in the cafe's closed circuit television (CCTV) recording.
This was odd, Ardito said, given that their other friend seemed panicky as she tried to help her dying friend.
“Seeing Mirna’s condition, Hani tried to revive Mirna and called her name. Meanwhile, Jessica just sat there without reacting. She didn’t try to help Mirna as Hani did,” he said in the prosecution’s indictment.
During Hani's questioning by police investigators, she said the coffee had a yellowish turmeric color and tasted awful when she had a small sip after Mirna. Vietnamese coffee normally has a brownish color, Ardito added. (rin)
