The state said on Tuesday that Filipino nurse Marvin Vargus, charged with murdering his wife Mary Grace, had searched online how to attack someone through his phone.
Marvin Vargus is charged of attacking his wife Mary and killing her in the apartment they lived in October, 2021. A Maldivian woman, Haleemath Lamha, accused of having a romantic relationship with Marvin, is charged of being an accomplice to the murder.
All three of them worked in Indira Ghandi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). At yesterday’s hearing, Marvin’s lawyer Ismail Mohamed questioned the statements that Mary was murdered via an attack to her head and neck. He asked on what evidence was that statement made on and had asked for clarifications on the weapon and proof as well.
The state said Marvin’s mobile forensic report shows that he had searched how to attack someone. “How to knock someone out” was searched on his mobile phone.
They also said it is clear that Marvin was the only one that stayed with Mary in the apartment they lived together when she was killed. Marvin had confirmed this himself in the past. While the autopsy report said Mary died from injuries received to her head and neck, the state agreed they did not know the weapon used to attack her.
Lawyer Ismail said the state can press charges if they have enough evidence and that an internet search is not enough evidence to accuse Marvin of murder.
His lawyer said Marvin denied all charges and that he said he did not kill Mary or cause her any harm.
"Inclusive of all the claims against Marvin, I deny them on his behalf," Ismail said.
Marvin did not show signs of distress when he was in court. He spoke to his lawyer and thanked the court saying his spokesperson had interpreted his statements correctly.
A new interpreter was brought on to Tuesday's hearing as there had been issues previously with the way his statements were interpreted.
Ismail complained about not receiving some of the evidence the state had presented for this case. He said the state should not be given the opportunity to present evidence whenever they wanted.
The state had said the only evidence they had not yet submitted was the psychological forensic assessment report of Marvin and Mary's child, Since the state was granted until the appeal process to submit that report in Lamha's case, the state had requested the same for this case as well.
Judge Hussain Faaiz Rashaad presiding over this case had granted the state the same for this case as well.
The state had requested to review Marvin's detention. However, defence lawyer Ismail requested to maintain Marvin's detention as there is no reason to lighten the current detention. Judge Faaiz decided to go ahead with this in the next hearing.
The lawyer had inquired as to why the trial for Lamha and Marvin was conducted separately.
Judge Faaiz said the two preliminary trials were conducted to expedite the process. However, the trials for Lamha and Marvin will be conducted together once the preliminary stage is over.
As per Marvin's request, the upcoming hearings will be conducted online. Evidence will be submitted in next month's hearings.
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