Keenan and Reuben were attacked when they tried to protect their female friends from molesters.
AB Wire
MUMBAI: A special women’s court in Mumbai convicted and sentence to life in jail all four men accused who attacked and killed Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez on October 20, 2011.
Keenan 24, and Reuben 29 were attacked outside a popular eatery in Amboli when they tried to protect their female friends from a group of eve-easers.
The group, who retrieved initially, came back with over ten people and stabbed the two while Keenan died on the same day, Reuben died ten days later. A crowd of 50 were watching the incidents without helping them.
Police had later arrested four accused namely Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj, Dipak Tival
The case moved to a fast track court in Sewri in March 2012 and the trial began in January 2013.
Two years later the case transferred to special women’s court.
Judge Vrushali Joshi on Thursday pronounced the verdict in the presence of the accused and the family members of the victims.
Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said that among the 28 witnesses were five eye witnesses including the two women that the victims Keenan and Reuben were defending.
“There is direct evidence to show that the accused were eve teasing and molesting girls when the victims tried to stop it. This is a pre meditated murder as the accused had even threatened them with their life and had come back with weapons to attack them.” Nikam added.