VANCOUVER, May 18, 2004

After 13 months and 80 witnesses, the Crown has wrapped up its case against two B.C. men – Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri.

Crown spokesperson Geoff Gaul says it took a great effort to present the case with just 80 witnesses.

"Had we been put to the task of calling all of the witnesses to prove each and every element – over a thousand witnesses – we would still be presenting that evidence."

Gaul would not offer any comment on how the case had gone other than to say it is probably the most complex criminal trial ever undertaken in this country.

And he characterized the RCMP investigation as its greatest ever – stretching over 16 years and covering the globe.

FROM MAY 14, 2004: Duelling bomb experts wrap up testimony

The Crown's case ended with two different expert views on where the bomb exploded aboard Air India flight 182.

The Crown's expert testified the bomb went off in the luggage from a connecting flight from Vancouver. While a defence expert told the judge it was in the luggage loaded in Toronto.

The defence lawyers will now being presenting their witnesses and evidence. There's no word how long that will take.

(CBC news)