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"We feel vindicated"

New Delhi: Getting justice after a wait of more than seven years, family and friends of slain model Jessica Lal termed the conviction of her killer Manu Sharma on Monday as triumph of truth with her sister Sabrina saying they felt vindicated.

"It's a vindication for all of us," Sabrina said in her first reaction to the Delhi High Court judgment convicting Sharma for the murder.

An 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,'' she said.

Sabrina had been at the forefront of the campaign for justice for Jessica.

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

Key witness in the case, socialite Bina Ramani, in whose Tamarind Court restaurant in Mehrauli Jessica had been shot dead by Sharma, said in Panaji, "It's unbelievable. It's great."

In a choking voice, Ramani recalled Jessica's last moments as she was being taken to the hospital.

"She was breathing hard for life and I was watching her slip away, I could not see her so helpless," she said.

Ramani said she was now looking forward to starting a new life. "Finally, a whole new life is to begin,'' she said, adding she will devote herself more actively to social service now.

Hailing the judgment, Neelam Katara said her faith in the Indian judiciary has been strengthened and she was hopeful of justice in the case of her son Nitish's killing.

``My faith in the judiciary has been strengthened. Other citizens can also draw confidence from the case and come forth and fight for justice,'' Katara told reporters outside the Delhi High Court shortly after the judgment was pronounced.

``This will have an impact in our case also. The judgment shows the past history of Vikas Yadav and I believe that the court will keep this in mind (in the Nitish murder case),'' Katara said.

She said she could well empathise with the family of Jessica. ``Had Jessica's mother and father been alive, they would have been happy today that finally justice has prevailed. I believe this will bring peace to their souls,'' she said.

Meanwhile, the witnesses in the case, including Ramani, stressed on the need to put in place a witness protection programme.

``There should be strong protection for witnesses and I will be on the forefront to create some kind of platform,'' Ramani said.

Another witness in the case, upcoming actor Shayan Munshi, who had, however, turned hostile, said echoing Ramani, ``I think it should be brought into place. It always helps.'' -- PTI

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