Keenan-Reuben murder: Will ask for life imprisonment unto death, says Keenan Santos' father

After a Mumbai sessions court adjourned the Keenan-Reuben murder case hearing till May 5, Keenan Santos' father Valerian Santos today said that he would not ask for capital punishment because he knew it was not possible, but added that he would ask for life imprisonment unto death.

"I want them (accused) to know what the suffering the family is going through and for how many years we have been suffering missing our son," said Valerian Santos.

"I would not ask for capital punishment because I know it is not possible it is not rarest of rare case, I also understand the law. But all I would ask for life imprisonment unto death," he added.

Valerian Santos further he needs a good judgment.

"I waited enough even though I was promised by none other than Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan at that time of fast-track court and all that, but it has taken more than four years. I want nothing less than life imprisonment unto death," he told reports outside the court.

Speaking to ANI before the court's proceedings, Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, representing the state, said, "The prosecution had examined more than 30 witnesses, including the girl who was eve-teased' and other two eyewitnesses. However, it is very difficult to say what the court is going to deliver the judgment."

"But I am very optimistic, because it was vehemently argued on behalf of the accused also that they are not guilty and the charges are false. We argued no, it was a deliberate murder and this should show the tendency of those boys as they were thinking that the girls were of possession only and they would like to use those girls. Let us see what court decides now," he said.

Terming it one of the most tragic incidents, Nikam said: "On October 20, 2011, three young girls were taking their meals in a public restaurant along with their friends. When those girls were going to the washroom, the four accused people found the girls alone and tried to eve-tease them. The moment these girls shouted, their friends came there and they did ask the explanation as why you were eve-teasing the girls. They aforesaid said ok you are along with the girls now will come back and wait here. They came with all preparation, and assaulted the two young boys mercilessly and they killed them there."

Keenan Santos, 24, and Reuben Fernandez,29, were repeatedly stabbed outside an eatery at Amboli on October 20, 2011, when they tried to protect their women friends from a group of men. Keenan succumbed to his injuries on the same day, while Reuben died 10 days later on October 31.

Four accused - Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival - were arrested the next day and a fast-track court had in October framed charges against them for murder, conspiracy and molestation.