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| Delhi student murder conviction | Delhi student murder conviction |
| (30 minutes 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, but acquitted in 1999 for lack of evidence. | Santosh Kumar Singh was tried for killing Priyadarshini Mattoo, but acquitted in 1999 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. |
| We will ask for a death penalty for the accused because of the ghastly nature of the crime CBI head Vijay Shankar href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6059426.stm" class="">Justice delayed, not denied | |
| "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. | "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. |
| Singh, now a practising lawyer, was present in court and arrested immediately after the judgement. | Singh, now a practising lawyer, was present in court and arrested immediately after the judgement. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Victory for justice' | 'Victory for justice' |
| Prosecutors say they want a death sentence for Singh because of the "ghastly nature" of his crime. | Prosecutors say they want a death sentence for Singh because of the "ghastly nature" of his crime. |
| Ms Mattoo was found strangled in her Delhi flat | Ms Mattoo was found strangled in her Delhi flat |
| "This [judgement] will be a benchmark for all trial courts and investigating agencies," said Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) head Vijay Shankar. | "This [judgement] will be a benchmark for all trial courts and investigating agencies," said Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) head Vijay Shankar. |
| A friend of Ms Matto, Indu Jalali, hailed what she said was a victory for India's judicial system and the media. | A friend of Ms Matto, Indu Jalali, hailed what she said was a victory for India's judicial system and the media. |
| "This was the result of public outcry, media pressure and rigorous investigation. We never expected this to happen so soon." | "This was the result of public outcry, media pressure and rigorous investigation. We never expected this to happen so soon." |
| 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The judge was scathing in his criticism of the investigating authorities, saying they had manipulated evidence and ignored proper procedures. | The judge was scathing in his criticism of the investigating authorities, saying they had manipulated evidence and ignored proper procedures. |
| 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." | 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." |
| According to the prosecution, Singh had stalked and harassed Ms Mattoo for months. Singh always maintained his innocence. | According to the prosecution, Singh had stalked and harassed Ms Mattoo for months. Singh always maintained his innocence. |
| Campaign | Campaign |
| A public outcry followed Singh's acquittal, and the prosecution appealed against the verdict in the high court in April 2000. | A public outcry followed Singh's acquittal, and the prosecution appealed against the verdict in the high court in April 2000. |
| The Jessica Lal case provoked protests earlier this year | The Jessica Lal case provoked protests earlier this year |
| Campaigners formed a group called "Justice for Priyadarshini" and held candle-light vigils and e-mail campaigns demanding punishment for the murderer. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | The Priyadarshini Mattoo case has parallels with that of murdered model Jessica Lal, which is currently being reinvestigated after a prominent media campaign. |