Four of the defendants in the 2008 murder of TV journalist Soumya Vishwanathan were given life sentences by a Delhi court today, while the fifth defendant received a three-year sentence. The court denied the convicted the death punishment, ruling that the offence did not qualify as exceptionally unusual. Amit Shukla, Ajay Kumar, Baljeet Malik, and Ravi Kapoor have all been given life sentences. Ajay Sethi, the fifth prisoner, was given a three-year easy sentence for his assistance.When did the muder happenFor journalist Soumya Vishwanathan, then 25 years old, September 30, 2008, was just another day. She was a news producer for Headlines Today, and she had stayed late to assist with an urgent story. After finishing her work at 3.03 am, she departed from the Jhandewalan office, got into her car, and headed back to Vasant Kunj. She had no idea that this drive would be her last and that she would be brutally murdered in the middle of a late-night robbery attempt.Police investigating the incident reported that Soumya passed a car carrying Kapoor, Shukla, Kumar, and Malik on her way back.How did the murder happenAccording to the police, the four prisoners saw that the woman motorist who passed them was by herself. They picked up speed and began to pursue. They attempted to stop Soumyas vehicle first. She continued without stopping. Kapoor then fired at her with a countrymade weapon. She was instantly killed when the bullet struck her in the head. Near her house on Nelson Mandela Marg, the automobile struck a divider and came to a stop.According to an officer, the murderers left the scene but came back 20 minutes later to see how the victim was doing. They fled upon seeing police officers.On October 18, the judge found the four defendants guilty of murder in accordance with section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
