Grover murder: Jerome gets 10 years, Maria 3

www.mangaloretoday.com

Mumbai, July 1, 2011: A Bombay Sessions Court on Friday sentenced Emile Jerome to 10 years in jail while his girlfriend Maria Susairaj has been given three years in jail in the Neeraj Grover murder case. The sentences were pronounced on Friday.

Jerome, a former naval officer, has been convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Indian Penal Code Section 304 (Part 1) and destruction of evidence under Section 201. Kannada actress and Jerome’s girlfriend Maria Susairaj has been convicted for just destruction of evidence.

Since she has already been in jail for three years during the trial, she is likely to walk free. Jerome will be in jail for seven years as he has also served three years in jail.

Maria will pay a compensation of Rs 50,000 while Jerome will pay Rs 1 lakh to Grover’s parents.

The prosecution claimed in the court that Maria was an active participant in the murder case and even though she had a chance of escaping, but she did not do so. The prosecution added that Maria reportedly told Jerome that Neeraj Grover was bleeding but he (Jerome) told her that he (Grover) will not die soon.

The defence lawyers countered the argument saying that Maria was not a party to crime and she is not a habitual offender. Maria’s lawyer claimed that she was a victim of circumstances and there was no motive or conspiracy on her part.

"Maria helped Jerome as there was threat to her life. Maria is not in the right state of mind. She has been silent throughout," said her lawyer.

However, Grover’s family members claimed that they have not yet got any justice.

"This is no justice. This is no punishment, this is acquittal. Maria is the main person responsible for the murder of Neeraj. Without Maria’s assistance, Jerome could not have done anything," said Amarnath Grover, father of Neeraj Grover.

Three years after the brutal killing of the Grover, creative head of Synergy Adlabs, the court had on Thursday held that it was not a premeditated murder and absolved Maria and Jerome of the murder charge.

Both the accused had been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, common intent and causing disappearance of evidence.

Giving his reasons for the conviction on a lesser offence, Sessions Court judge NW Chandwani held that Jerome had acted on the spur of the moment and that the killing was not premeditated. Grover’s body was hacked into pieces after the murder.

"When he entered the room he was calm. This showed he did not have intention (to murder). Obviously for a fiance, in a situation where he finds a stranger with his partner, would upset a prudent man and he would lose control," the judge remarked.

The court accepted the confession of Maria which she said was voluntary and connected Jerome with the killing of Grover.

According to the prosecution, Jerome had gone to Maria’s residence in suburban Malad on May 7, 2008 where he got into a fight with Grover (26) during which the naval officer stabbed the victim to death. Matia and Jerome later cut the body of Grover into pieces and disposed it of in Manor forest in neighbouring Thane.

 

Courtesy: CNN-IBN Live