M A I N   N E W S

Hannah Foster Rape Case
Extradition of Kohli to UK allowed

New Delhi, June 8
A Delhi court today allowed the extradition of NRI Maninder Pal Singh Kohli to the UK for facing a trial in the rape-and-murder case of British teenager Hannah Claire Foster.

"I hold that there is sufficient material on record which prima facie makes out a case for the extradition of fugitive criminal to the UK," additional chief metropolitan magistrate Kamini Lau said.

The court, however, made it clear that no death penalty should be awarded to Kohli even after he was found guilty after the trial there.

The court lent credence to the scientific and forensic evidence submitted before it by the External Affairs Ministry indicating the presence of the victim's blood sample in a delivery van of Hazzelwood Food Company which was allegedly driven by Kohli.

Allowing the Centre's plea regarding the Kohli's conduct after the incident, the court said the act of fleeing from Britain on the pretext of visiting his ailing mother in India and his continuous efforts to evade the arrest had made it a fit case to extradite him.

The court also took into account the telephonic records which indicated that Hannah had made desperate phone calls on police helpline numbers on the night of her murder on March 14, 2003.

The court had, on May 14, reserved the order on Kohli's extradition to Britain after the government favoured his deportation for facing trial there.

Opposing the extradition proceedings that began in September, 2004, Kohli had said he was merely a suspect in the case. — PTI

Victim’s mother hails decision

LONDON: Hillary Foster, mother of British teenager Hannah Claire, has welcomed a Delhi court's order allowing his extradition to the UK. "After three long years, it's a very very good feeling to know that he (Kohli) will come to the UK and face a trial," she said here.

"But we have to get a conviction. The man who brutally murdered my daughter has to pay for his crimes and I will be satisfied only if he gets conviction," Foster said. Reacting to the court's order that no death penalty be awarded to Kohli even if he was found guilty after the trial there, she said, "It's not legal in our country. We have to accept that, that's the rule of the land." — PTI