Despite a non-bailable warrant issued by a local court, prime witness in actor Salman Khan's hit-and-run case today failed to appear for the trial, prompting the magistrate to defer the case till February 16.

The court had on February 7 issued non-bailable warrant against Ravindra Patil for not turning up during the trial and had asked him to appear on February 10.

Patil is an eyewitness in the case as he was accompanying Salman when the actor met with an accident by ramming his car into a bakery killing one person and injuring four on September 28, 2002.

Patil was asked to appear for cross-examination today but he did not come and the court adjourned the trial.

On two occasions earlier, the court had issued warrant against Patil.

Patil had on last occasion fumbled for words before the trial court when he was confronted with contradictions in his police complaint and interview appearing in a section of the media, a day after the mishap.

Ravindra Patil, former police guard of Salman, is being cross-examined by defence lawyer Dipesh Mehta.

The witness was earlier confronted with his interview in `Mid-Day', a day after the incident in which he had said that the actor was normal before getting on to the wheel. The interview also mentioned Patil saying that Salman had told him that the wheel was not turning just before he rammed the car into a bakery after dodging an electric pole.

The witness told the defence lawyer that the contents of the interview were correct. However, in the police complaint he had not stated so, the court was told.