Indian politician's son guilty of model's murder (Retrial; corruption alleged in first trial)

Reuters (U.K.) ^ | December 18, 2006 | Samanwaya Rautray

[Stoat]

Indian politician's son guilty of model's murder
Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:41 AM GMT

 

 

By Samanwaya Rautray

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The son of an influential member of India's ruling Congress party was found guilty on Monday of murdering a model in 1999, in a retrial of a controversial case which has transfixed the country.

Jessica Lall, 34, was tending the bar at an exclusive party in New Delhi when she was shot dead by Manu Sharma, the son of a Congress party politician, apparently for refusing to serve him a drink after the bar had closed.

Sharma had been acquitted in February, raising widespread protests from the public and media who saw the initial verdict as evidence the rich and powerful are beyond the reach of justice. The Delhi High Court ordered a retrial after the outcry.

"We have no hesitation in holding Sidharth Vashisht alias Manu Sharma guilty of the offence of murder," a two-judge bench told a packed courtroom.

Sharma is the son of Venod Sharma, a former federal minister from the northern state of Haryana.

The decision came as India's courts seemed to be flexing muscles with a series of high-profile verdicts in recent weeks.

Earlier this month, a former federal minister was sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to kidnap and murder his former aide. Shibu Soren quit his post of coal minister when the court handed him a guilty verdict.

An opposition politician and former international cricketer, Navjot Singh Sidhu, was sentenced to three years in jail for culpable homicide for killing a man in a road-rage attack 18 years ago.

REFUSED A DRINK

According to the prosecution in the Jessica Lall case, Sharma took out a pistol when he was refused a drink and said "I will do it my way" before shooting once in the air and then firing a single bullet at Lall.

But the prosecution's case fell apart during the first trial when a key witness, budding actor Shayan Munshi, retracted a statement linking Sharma to the shooting.

That prompted mobile phone SMS and e-mail campaigns for the case to be re-opened, with one TV news station delivering a petition to the president signed by more than 200,000 people.

The city's police chief ordered an inquiry in March into claims of collusion between his officers and the accused.

A week later senior police officers appealed against the acquittal at Delhi's High Court. Under Indian law, it is possible to appeal both convictions and acquittals handed down by trial courts.

Before the police appeal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told a conference of judges it was time to reflect on whether courts were really handing down justice, a comment some interpreted as an indirect reference to the Jessical Lall case.

In the retrial, the high court also convicted another politician's son, Vikas Yadav, for conspiracy and destroying evidence in the case. Another accused, Amardeep Singh Gill, was also held guilty of conspiracy and destroying evidence. Six others were acquitted.

Sentences will be announced on Wednesday.

[Stoat]

This case naturally brings to mind what a terrible shame it is that Mary Jo Kopechne's death has never been given the justice that she and her family deserves.  Hopefully an appropriate sentence will be handed down in this case and that it won't be further corrupted by the influences of political power.  Congratulations to India for pursuing justice despite the influences of political power in the matter.  May Jessica Lall rest in peace, and may her family be comforted by justice.

 

 

Chronology of Jessica Lall murder case

Chronology of Jessica Lall murder case

New Delhi, Dec. 18 (ANI): Following is chronology of events relating to the Jessica Lall murder case.

April 29/30, 1999: Model Jessica Lall shot dead at South Delhi's Tamarind Court, owned by socialite Bina Ramani. Siddharth Vashisht, also called Manu Sharma, is main suspect.

May 4: Co-accused, Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony and Ashok Khanna, arrested.

May 6: Manu surrenders in Chandigarh.

May 8: Bina Ramani, husband George Mailhot and daughter Malini arrested, and later bailed out, for serving liquor without a license.

May 10: Joint Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Y S Dadwal, who was at the restaurant on April 30, is relieved from his post.

August 3: Chargesheet filed against twelve persons.

November 24, 2000: Charges framed.

May 3, 2001: Eyewitness Shayan Munshi turns hostile.

May 05: Witness electrician Shiv Das turns hostile.

May 16: Third key witness Karan Rajput turns hostile.

October 12: Bina Ramani identifies Manu as the person whom she had tried to stop from fleeing the crime scene.

April 12, 2005: HC grants bail to Manu Sharma.February 21, 2006: All accused acquitted. Decision based on witnesses turning hostile and prosecution failure to recover weapon used in murder.

February 23: A Delhi Police's internal inquiry report raises doubts about conspiracy between investigators and accused.

February 24: High Court takes suo motu cognisance of acquittal and directs Delhi Police to furnish all details by April 19.

February 25: Delhi Police Chief K K Paul takes action against Jessica case Investigating Officer (IO) Surender Sharma.

February 27: Surender Sharma says he did nothing without the consent of Kanth and then DCP (south) Sudhir Yadav. Says CFSL man Roop Singh replaced one of the two cartridges sent to laboratory.

March 4: Roop Singh denies allegations by Surender Sharma.

March 13: Delhi police files appeal in HC against acquittal.

April 18: HC issues non-bailable warrant against Vikas Gill. Fast tracks the case.

September 27: A sting operation shows how key witnesses were allegedly threatened or bought over.

October 3: Hearing begins in HC. Manu ropes in Ram Jethmalani.

November 3: Jethmalani seeks transfer of case as High Court Justice R S Sodhi was reportedly approached by someone on behalf of Manu Sharma.

November 29: HC reserves order.

Dec 18: Manu Sharma is found guilty in the case. Co-accused Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Gill also convicted. (ANI)

[Stoat]

The Hindu News Update Service

It's a vindication for all of us: Sabrina Lal

New Delhi, Dec. 18 (PTI): "It's a vindication for all of us," was how Sabrina, the sister of slain model Jessica Lall, described the conviction today of Manu Sharma for the murder that took place more than seven years ago.

Emotionally overwhelmed, Sabrina, said, "It is a very emotional day for me."

Having lost both her parents during the course of the family's seven-and-a-half-year-long fight for justice, she said she missed her mother and father.

"We are missing mom and dad. It is a very good day for the family," said Sabrina, who has been at the forefront of the campaign for justice for Jessica.

"There is a feeling of victory and vindication," she said.

She said it has been a long fight, "but the end result has been amazing."

Terming it a "vindication for all of us," Sabrina said finally truth has prevailed.

Asked what her message would be for Neelam Katara, who has been fighting a lone battle to bring the alleged murderers of her son Nitish to book, she said, "Never give up hope. keep fighting."

Sabrina, along with other supporters of Jessica, took out candle-light vigils, building up public opinion for speedy justice in the case.

Jessica was killed by Sharma, who shot at her at the now-closed down Tamarind Court restaurant in the capital after she refused to serve him liquor.

[Thrownatbirth]

Delhi Police Chief K K Paul takes action against Jessica case Investigating Officer (IO) Surender Sharma.

Should be pretty easy to get this guy to fold like a cheap suit.

[Stoat]

Delhi Police Chief K K Paul takes action against Jessica case Investigating Officer (IO) Surender Sharma.

Should be pretty easy to get this guy to fold like a cheap suit.

Let's hope that you are right.  It's so refreshing to see justice carried out in high-profile politically-charged cases like this.

It seems that the Indian courts are not so easily cowed as are some courts and law enforcement agencies here in the USA, as evidenced by Mary Jo Kopechne's death which was caused by a certain Senator From Massachusetts.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Hopefully the young lady will rest in peace now.