Thaindian News

Shimla, Nov 15 (IANS) British police have sought information from their counterparts in Himachal Pradesh on the death of a Briton seven years ago in the hill state, a police officer said Tuesday.

“The South Wales Police have sought more details regarding the circumstances that led to the death of the British national and we will soon provide these to them,” Sirmaur district Superintendent of Police Puneeta Bhardwaj told IANS.

A local court in Britain Monday charged John Clifton Davies, 50, with murder and fraud over the death of his wife Colette Davies, 39. He was also accused of fraudulently claiming an insurance claim after his wife’s death.

He was remanded to custody by Cardiff magistrate’s court till Wednesday.

Colette died when she fell into a river in Rajgarh subdivision in Sirmaur, some 100 km from state capital Shimla, in 2004 while on a sightseeing trip.

The couple had married 14 months before the tragedy.

“No criminal case was registered (by Himachal police)… but we have started investigations again,” she added.

Another officer said the police also have doubts about the credentials of a man from Delhi who was accompanying the couple at the time of the crime.

“The Indian, who is believed to be a friend of the accused, will also be questioned soon. At the time of the crime, he was driving their vehicle,” said the officer.

Prosecutors said the accused could be tried in Britain.

After the death, Himachal Pradesh had initiated inquest proceedings under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code, but no criminal case was made out under the Indian Penal Code.