Hit-and-run driver who fled to India, Puneet Puneet had reportedly begged the family of Queensland student he killed to pardon him.
He told , "Whatever happened was unfortunate and not deliberate, I request the families to pardon me for the thing which wasn't deliberate."
"I request them to drop this case ... My life is also ruined."
Puneet Puneet was allegedly drunk when the car he was driving crashed into two pedestrians, both students from Queensland.
A file photo of hit-and-run accused Puneet Puneet. Source: AAP
The crash killed a 19-year-old student Dean Hofstee and injured another friend 20-year-old Clancy Coker in October 2008.
Puneet awaited sentencing for culpable driving causing death and negligently causing injury, when he used a friend’s passport and fled to India in June 2009.
He remained in hiding in India for four years before he was arrested by the Indian police in 2013.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Source: AAP
Premier to visit India and appeal for Puneet Puneet’s extradition
Acting Premier James Merlino told that Premier Daniel Andrews will visit India and petition the Indian government for Puneet Puneet’s return to Australia.
“The Premier, Heidi, is visiting India next week,” Mr Merlino said this morning.
“He will be directly raising this with the Indian government.”
"This is not about forgiveness it's about justice," he told 3AW Radio.
"He needs to be extradited to face the Victorian, the Australian, justice system."
"I cannot give you a later date, I want the matter ended."
Meanwhile, a court will decide whether more witnesses should be summoned in Puneet's extradition hearing.
A New Delhi court has set a date of February 2 to hear final arguments over a petition to call more witnesses in the case.
The defence wants to present more witnesses over claimed medical conditions suffered by the 28-year-old defendant and whether he would face danger in Australia.
At the court on Monday, lawyers for the Union of India - which handles extradition cases for the Indian Government - cross-examined claims made by a friend of the defendant, that Puneet would face extreme racism and violence if he was to be extradited to an Australian prison.
The testimony from Pankaj Monga, who spent time with Puneet in Australia was described as "hearsay" and "a series of fabricated stories" by Union of India lawyers.
Justice Gurmohina Kaur ruled that arguments on the call for more witnesses would be made a few weeks from now. The defence argued the date was too soon, to which she said the case had been delayed and postponed enough.
"I cannot give you a later date, I want the matter ended," she said.
Previously, the defence submitted medical reports saying Puneet is suffering from various ailments, including schizophrenia, kidney and liver problems. He attended the hearing with relatives.
- With AAP
