The five twists in Jessica Lall case

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Rajdeep Sardesai

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Keywords: Delhi Police, Tamarind Court

New Delhi: The Jessica Lall murder trial has been mired in controversy from day one and even in the appeal stage, the case went through its ups and downs.

Defence Lawyer Ram Jethmalani knew from day one that defending Manu Sharma, the man accused of killing Jessica Lall, was difficult as public opinion was against his client.

"I won't do anything, but I'll do everything legitimate and honourable to defend my client, and that is precisely what I am doing, that's a matter between me and the court," Jethmalani said.

The arguments in the case needed twists and they began from day one of his arguments.

The case saw five twists in the 25 hearings in the Delhi High Court.

Twist 1

This was when Jethmalani claimed he would get Manu acquitted in any case.

I will get Manu acquitted in any case but I don't want people to turn around and say that the court was corrupt and so I won.

Twist 2

It wasn't Manu Sharma who killed Jessica. A tall Sikh gentleman shot her. And then it became more sensational—the Sikh man was so powerful, that the Delhi Police had actually framed Manu at his behest.

Jethmalani promised to name this villain in the next few days. But the only Sikh whose name ever came up during the trial was Manu's friend and co-accused Amardeep Singh Gill.

Twist 3

Jessica was killed not for denying something she did not have (liquor) but for something she had. It was a crime of passion and she was killed because she challenged the sexual man hood of her killer.

This turned the very motive of the crime on its head. The prosecution had so far maintained Jessica had been shot in a fit of rage after she refused to serve liquor to Manu and his friends.

Twist 4

Jethmalani managed another first. His client had been acquitted by the trial court, yet he asked for a re-trial.

The idea, perhaps, was to establish the honest intentions of his client, who according to Jethmalani had been framed by the police.

But the twists didn't just come from Jethmalani, the prosecution introduced them as well.

Twist 5

A suspect about to be charged with destroying evidence suddenly became their key witness.

Bina Ramani had wiped off Jessica's blood stains from the Tamarind Court cafe and the SIT had told the trial court that they would charge her for destroying evidence.

But no chargesheet was filed. Instead, the entire prosecution's case revolved around her testimony that a short, young, plump man had shot Jessica. She later clarified that this man was Manu Sharma.

So far, the case has seem 25 hearings, five twists an ace lawyer who tried to fight not only the prosecution, but also public opinion. But Jethmalani was perhaps right on one count—it's what happens inside the court that matters.