Witnesses in double murder case to testify before female judge

The principal judge of the sessions court today transferred the controversial double murder case of two youngsters who died fighting eve-teasers to a female judge as female witnesses would be comfortable testifying.
The prosecution had moved an application before the principal judge last month seeking transfer of the case citing many witnesses who are young girls and they would not be comfortable testifying before a male judge.
"The case has been transferred to a female judge and the assigned court will fix a date for the next hearing," a police official said.
Keenan Santos (24) and Reuben Fernandes (29) were stabbed to death, after a scuffle in suburban Andheri on October 20 last year. They were attacked outside an eatery after they tried to protect their female friends from a group of eve-teasers who had left only to return with more than 10 people to brutally assault and stab them to death.

Jitendra Rana, Sunil Bodh, Satish Dulhaj and Dipak Tival were arrested in connection with the incident.
In October last year, the court framed charges against the four accused for murder, conspiracy and molestation.