Talwar trial a combination of lazy investigation and lynch mob media – Senior Advocate, Rebecca John [Updated]

A CBI Court in Ghaziabad has convicted Rajesh and Nupur Talwar of the murder of their daughter Aarushi, and domestic help Hemraj in 2008. As per this report, the doctor couple was also found guilty of destroying evidence, while Rajesh Talwar was convicted of misleading the police investigation by claiming that it was Hemraj who had, in fact, murdered Aarushi..Special Judge Shyam Lal, who reserved judgment barely two weeks ago, is expected to pass the order on sentencing soon. The sentencing would mark the final step in one of the most followed criminal trials in recent years..Senior Advocate Rebecca John, who represented Rajesh and Nupur Talwar during the trial, told Bar & Bench that she was extremely disappointed with the verdict. Calling the CBI investigation a “lazy” one, John was also critical of the manner in which the media reported the trial..“It was almost as if [the media] was siding with the investigation,” laments John, “Anything [the police] put out was blindly accepted by the media.” This meant that the investigating agencies rarely, if ever, had to face any tough questions..What makes such type of reporting worse, says John, is the fact that the intense media speculation also places a tremendous strain on an already burdened legal system..“This case ought to be an eye opener”, says John, “We should not tolerate this media frenzy, and most importantly, we have to believe in due process”. After all, says John, “Today it is the Talwars, tomorrow it could be anybody.”.The prosecution was led by CBI Deputy Legal Advisor, RK Saini..Updated on November 26, 2013: Read the full judgment of the Special CBI Court below: