Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Eleven years after model Jessica Lall was shot dead by Congress leader Venod Sharma’s son Manu at a south Delhi restaurant, the Supreme Court Monday gave the final word on the murder trial: Manu is guilty , and life sentence to him is the right punishment.
Here’s a look at the timeline of the case:

April 29-30 night, 1999: Jessica is shot at a party in Tamarind Court restaurant in south Delhi.

April 30, 1999: Doctors at the Apollo Hospital declare Jessica brought dead.

May 2, 1999: Delhi Police recover the Tata Safari car belonging to Manu Sharma, son of Haryana Congress leader Venod Sharma, from Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

May 6, 1999: Manu surrenders before a court in Chandigarh. Later 10 other co-accused, including Vikas Yadav, son of Uttar Pradesh politician D.P. Yadav, are arrested.

Aug 3, 1999: Charge sheet filed against accused for killing Jessica under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Jan 31, 2000: Magistrate court commits the case to a sessions court for trial.

Nov 23, 2000: Sessions court frames charges for murder against nine persons and discharges one accused, Amit Jhingan, while declaring Ravinder Sudan a proclaimed offender.

May 2, 2001: Court starts recording of prosecution evidence. Deepak Bhojwani, an eyewitness deposes before the trial court.

May 3, 2001: Complainant and eyewitness Shayan Munshi turns hostile and fails to identify Manu in court.

May 5, 2001: Another eyewitness, lectrician Shiv Das at Qutub Colonnade, turns hostile.

May 16, 2001: Third key witness Karan Rajput turns hostile.

July 6, 2001: Malini Ramani, eyewitness, identifies Manu.

Oct 12, 2001: Socialite Bina Ramani, owner of the restaurant and bar, identifies Manu. Five days later her Canadian husband George Mailhot deposes and identifies Manu.

July 20, 2004: Surinder Sharma, controversial investigating officer in the case, deposes after returning from UN assignment in Kosovo.

Feb 21, 2006: Trial court acquits all nine accused due to lack of evidence against them.

March 13, 2006: Delhi Police file appeal in the Delhi High Court.

Oct 3, 2006: High court begins hearing on appeal on a day-to-day basis.

Dec 18, 2006: High court convicts Manu, Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill alias Tony and acquits Aloke Khanna, Vikas Gill, Harvinder Singh Chopra, Raja Chopra, Shyam Sunder Sharma and Yograj Singh.

Dec 20, 2006: High court awards life imprisonment term to main convict Manu Sharma with a fine of Rs.50,000 and also sentences co-convicts Amardeep Singh Gill and Vikas Yadav to four years’ prison term with a fine of Rs.3,000 each.

Feb 2, 2007: Manu Sharma appeals to the Supreme Court.

March 8, 2007: Supreme Court admits Manu Sharma’s appeal.

Nov 27, 2007: Supreme Court rejects Manu Sharma’s bail plea.

May 12, 2008: Supreme Court again rejects Manu Sharma’s bail plea.

Jan 19, 2010: Supreme Court commences hearing on Manu Sharma’s appeal.

Feb 18, 2010: Supreme Court reserves verdict on the appeal of Manu Sharma.

April 19, 2010: Supreme Court upholds conviction and life term of Manu Sharma.