SC reserves ruling in Staines murder case

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its ruling on a CBI petition that sought the death sentence of Dara Singh in the brutal murder case of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999.

The judgement was reserved by a bench of justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan. Appearing for the CBI was Additional Solicitor General Vivek Tankha.

Tanka told the bench that the murder of Graham Staines was a 'heinous' act and the accused must not be let off without a death sentence.

"It was worse than a carnage. The hands, legs and the skull of the Graham Staines were burnt," Tankha said

Graham Staines and his two sons, Phillip, 11, and Timothy, 7, were burnt to death by a mob led by Singh while they were asleep inside their station wagon at Manoharpur village in Orissa in 1999.

In September 2003, the trial court had sentenced Singh to death and 11 others to life imprisonment.

The CBI has appealed to the Supreme Court to not conclude the case as a "simple conspiracy". It has also sought the reversal of the acquittal of 11 accused.

Meanwhile, media reports that Singh has filed a cross appeal challenging his conviction and the life sentence awarded to him.