In a new twist to the hit-and-run case involving film actor Salman Khan, a local court today discharged five witnesses after prosecution said it did not wish to examine them.

The five witnesses appeared before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate J B Pankhe but the court discharged them on prosecution plea.

These witnesses are employees of J W Marriot Hotel where the actor had gone just before he rammed his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra, killing one person and injuring four on September 28, 2002.

They had earlier given statements to police saying Salman had a glass of water when he came to the hotel before the accident. Their version is corroborated with statements of guests who were present in the 'Rain' bar of the hotel when the actor arrived.

However, the case of the prosecution is that the actor had a couple of drinks at a party hosted by his actor brother Sohail Khan at J W Marriot Hotel just before Salman met with the accident.

The prosecution chose to discharge the witnesses as it felt that no material could be gathered from them. The court was told that the prosecution did not wish to rely upon these five witnesses.

The trial has been deferred till April 12. The prosecution has given a list of 60 witnesses. Of these, two have been examined so far.