Mumbai: As soon as the Mumbai Sessions Court pronounced the four persons guilty in the Keenan-Reuben murder case and sentenced them to life, a relieved Valerian Santos, the father of Keenan, expressed satisfaction over the judgement. "If the murderers seek forgiveness, even the god won't give it," Santos said.
"I am very happy. What I had wished for has come through. I always wanted them to be hanged or given life sentence. The court has granted that. I am satisfied," he said while trying to control his emotions.
Dedicating the judgement to Keenan and Rueben, he raised his hands towards the sky and added, "All that I can say is -- victory to you Keenan and Rueben."
According to him, the Sessions Court did the right thing by applying molestation charges as an additional crime against the convicts.
Explaining his trauma and the threats he faced by the convicts in the last five years, Santos said, "You can break me but you can’t bend me. I am not scared of anybody. I know that the fight is still on. The murderers can go to High court, even the Supreme Court. It is their right. But, I won’t give up."
He also thanked the people who stood by him. "It has enhanced by faith in judiciary, media, social media and ordinary people. They made this possible. They supported me all through this. Even the strangers came forward to give me moral support," he said while appealing to the public to help those in trouble.
Keenan and Reuben Fernandez were on October 20, 2011 stabbed outside Amboli Bar and Kitchen in Mumbai’s suburb of Andheri West when they confronted a group of men who tried to molest their female friends.
While Keenan died on the same day, Reuben was admitted to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries 10 days later. The incident sparked mass outrage and then the Maharashtra Government ordered a high-level probe.
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