INDIA. SUPREME COURT STAYS DEATH SENTENCE AWARDED TO VARANASI GUIDE

India’s Supreme Court stayed a death sentence awarded to a guide for killing a female New Zealand tourist at Varanasi in 1997.
A Division Bench admitted a special leave petition filed by Dharam Dev Yadav against an Allahabad high court order confirming his death sentence.
In his petition, Yadav contended that the high court, in its September 30, 2003 order, wrongly confirmed his death sentence as four other accused were acquitted on the basis of the same evidence.
The trial court had awarded capital punishment to Yadav in February 2003 for killing Diana Clare Routley, acquitting four other co-accused. The case was registered on a complaint by Diana's father in July 1998, stating that his daughter had not made any contact with the family since August 1997.
Investigations revealed that Diana, who was staying at the Old Vishnu Guest House, Varanasi, was last seen at the railway station there with Yadav on August 8, 1997.
Skeleton remains of the deceased were recovered from Yadav's house at Brindavan village in Uttar Pradesh. Police also recovered the sleeping bag and camera of the deceased from amongst the possessions of the other co-accused.