The criminal court on Tuesday denied a request to grant leniency for Haleemath Lamha detained in connection to the murder of Filipino nurse Mary Grace.
Judge Hussein Faiz Rashaad decided against leniency and stated that around 50 witnesses from the prosecution are left to testify.
Autopsy reports came back confirming that Mary died as a result of asphyxiation. The report also confirmed injuries to the head and neck.
Her husband Marvin S Y Vargas was charged with wilful murder and his lover Lamha was charged with wilfully aiding a murder.
On Tuesday, four people testified against the pair. They are employees of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
After testimony was taken, Lamha’s lawyer requested to grant her a conditional release for 100 days claiming that she is not a danger to the public and that she was facing mental health issues due to prolonged detention.
But the judge decided against the request, saying that the reasons for her prolonged detention have not changed.
The state submitted 74 people as witnesses against Marvin and Lamha. The judge said 50 people still remain to testify.
Marvin and Lamha have also submitted witnesses in their defence.
Police believe love affair led to murder
Mary was a nurse in the IGMH dialysis department while Marvin and Lamha worked as nurses in the casualty department.
The court had previously heard evidence that Mary had confronted Marvin and Lamha when she found out about their affair.
Divorce is illegal in the Philippines so the police believe the pair conspired to murder Mary to officiate their relationship.
Marvin reported the death on October 19, 2021. He was detained a week later on October 27. Lamha was arrested 50 days later on December 16.
Marvin was charged with wilful murder and Lamha was charged with wilfully aiding a murder.
She faces additional charges after police discovered medicines belonging to IGMH hidden in her room which she had taken without permission.
Both Marvin and Lamha deny the charges.
