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Man convicted of student murder Man convicted of student murder
(about 3 hours later)
A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has convicted a man of the 1996 rape and murder of a Delhi student in what is being seen as a landmark ruling.A court in the Indian capital, Delhi, has convicted a man of the 1996 rape and murder of a Delhi student in what is being seen as a landmark ruling.
Santosh Kumar Singh was tried for killing Priyadarshini Mattoo in 1996, but freed for lack of evidence.Santosh Kumar Singh was tried for killing Priyadarshini Mattoo in 1996, but freed for lack of evidence.
The case was taken up again by the Delhi High Court earlier this year following mounting public pressure.The case was taken up again by the Delhi High Court earlier this year following mounting public pressure.
Sentencing will be announced on 30 October. Singh has been told to expect a death sentence or life imprisonment.Sentencing will be announced on 30 October. Singh has been told to expect a death sentence or life imprisonment.
"The [earlier] acquittal shocked the conscience of this court," Judges RS Sodhi and PK Bhasin said in the judgement. We will ask for a death penalty for the accused because of the ghastly nature of the crime CBI head Vijay Shankar
Benefit of doubt "The [earlier] acquittal shocked the conscience of this court," Judges RS Sodhi and PK Bhasin said in the judgement, adding that there was enough circumstantial evidence to convict the accused.
An appeal in the case has been pending in the Delhi High Court for the past six years. Singh, now a practising lawyer, was present in court and arrested immediately after the judgement.
The Jessica Lal case provoked protests earlier this year The BBC's Soutik Biswas in Delhi says the ruling is significant in a country where it is routinely alleged that high-profile and influential suspects are not brought to justice.
In July the High Court decided to re-examine the evidence. Critics say criminals go scot-free because of shoddy investigations, a painfully slow justice system or crucial witnesses being bought off or influenced by those in power.
The court and ordered the case to be put on fast track and had been hearing the case three days a week. 'Victory for justice'
Mr Singh, who is now a practising lawyer, was present in court and arrested immediately after the judgement. Prosecutors say they want a death sentence for Singh because of the "ghastly nature" of his crime.
While acquitting him in 1999, the trial court judge said he knew Mr Singh was guilty. The Jessica Lal case provoked protests earlier this year"This [judgement] will be a benchmark for all trial courts and investigating agencies," said Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) head Vijay Shankar.
But, he said, he was forced to acquit him, giving him the benefit of the doubt. A friend of Ms Matto, Indu Jalali, hailed what she said was a victory for India's judicial system and the media.
According to the prosecution, Mr Singh had stalked and harassed Ms Mattoo for months. "This was the result of public outcry, media pressure and rigorous investigation. We never expected this to happen so soon."
Mr Singh has always maintained his innocence.
The judge in the original trial was scathing in his criticism of the investigating authorities, saying they had manipulated evidence and ignored proper procedures.
Mr Singh's father was a senior police officer at the time and the judge said he may have interfered in the case: "The influence of the father has been there in the matter and there was deliberate inaction."
Public outcry
Ms Mattoo's body was found in her Delhi flat in January, 1996. She had been strangled and her body showed signs of 19 injuries.Ms Mattoo's body was found in her Delhi flat in January, 1996. She had been strangled and her body showed signs of 19 injuries.
A public outcry followed Mr Singh's acquittal, and the prosecution appealed against the verdict in the high court in April 2000. The original trial court judge had said he knew Singh was guilty but was forced to give him the benefit of the doubt and acquit him.
But for the next six years, the case made little headway. The judge was scathing in his criticism of the investigating authorities, saying they had manipulated evidence and ignored proper procedures.
Then several of Ms Mattoo's old friends and youth activists from around the world formed a group called "Justice for Priyadarshini" and held candle-light vigils and e-mail campaigns demanding punishment for the murderer. Mr Singh's father was a senior police officer at the time and the judge said he may have interfered in the case: "The influence of the father has been there in the matter and there was deliberate inaction."
Recently, another murder case - that of Delhi-based model Jessica Lal - was brought back in the court after a public outcry. According to the prosecution, Singh had stalked and harassed Ms Mattoo for months. Singh always maintained his innocence.
In the past few months, several senior lawyers and former judges have openly criticised the ineffectiveness of the criminal law system in India. Campaign
A public outcry followed Singh's acquittal, and the prosecution appealed against the verdict in the high court in April 2000.
Campaigners formed a group called "Justice for Priyadarshini" and held candle-light vigils and e-mail campaigns demanding punishment for the murderer.
The case made little headway until July, when the high court decided to re-examine the evidence on a "fast-track" basis.
Our correspondent says there have been mounting demands for radical reform of India's criminal law system, including open criticism from several senior lawyers and former judges.
He says public confidence in the justice system is at an all-time low, with many people accusing investigating agencies and the judiciary of catering to the rich and influential.
The Priyadarshini Mattoo case has parallels with that of murdered model Jessica Lal, which is currently being reinvestigated after a prominent media campaign.