State vs . Azubnozu Ekene Patric, on 9 August, 2018
44. It is evident from the testimony of prosecution
witnesses specially PW-2 Inspector P. C. Khanduri that
sincere eforts were made to join the public witnesses but
none of them inclined to join and went away telling their
excuses. It is not uncommon that public persons are
reluctant to join as witnesses in criminal cases as they do
not want to indulge in hectic police and court
proceedings. The non joining of public witnesses is not
fatal to the case as otherwise the case is proved by way
of consistent and cogent evidence. On examination the
facts of the case as well as evidence of prosecution
SC No. 440685/16 State Vs Azubnozu Ekene Patric Page No. 37/40
witnesses and the documents, this court is of the opinion
that there is no reason to discredit the convincing
testimony of prosecution witnesses. This is also fortified
by the judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court titled
Tahir Vs. State 1996 (3) SCC 338. Para 6 of this
judgment reads as under:-