The Hindu : New Delhi News : Prosecution evidence in Jessica case fabricated: Jethmalani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2006
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Prosecution evidence in Jessica case fabricated: Jethmalani

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Continuing his argument on behalf of Manu Sharma, prime accused in the Jessica Lal murder case, lawyer Ram Jethmalani on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that much of the prosecution evidence was false and fabricated.

Appearing before a Division Bench, comprising Justices R.S. Sodhi and P.K. Bhasin, hearing the appeal against the acquittal of Sharma and eight others by the trial court, Mr. Jethmalani said the evidence collected by the prosecution created doubts. So, his client should be given the benefit of the doubt.

He supported the evidence of prosecution witness Shyan Munshi that two shots, one in the air and the other at ramp model Jessica Lal, were fired from two different weapons. The first forensic report said the shots were fired from two different weapons. When the prosecution found that the report did not suit its plan to frame Manu Sharma, it sent the empty cartridges to the Rajasthan Forensic Laboratory for a second opinion. The laboratory said it could not give any opinion in the absence of the weapon.

Mr. Jethmalani challenged the prosecution to go for a third opinion on the empty cartridges and he would examine the scientist on his views.

He urged the court to reject the testimonies of socialite Bina Ramani, her husband George Mailhot and their daughter fashion designer Malini Ramani as their statements contradicted one another.

The Bench rejected Mr. Jethmalani's plea for a direction to the Delhi police to hand over to him copies of three reports prepared by the Special Investigation Team about lapses in the investigation so that he could defend his client better.

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