Youth gets lifer for rape and murder of minor girl

Panaji, July 11 (UNI) A Children's Court here today sentenced a youth to life imprisonment and imposed fines totalling Rs 2,50,000 for raping and murdering a minor girl in 2004.

The president of the court Desmond D'Costa found Raju Pasla guilty of the crime and directed him to undergo imprisonments ranging from six months to two years, in default, to pay fines for different offences.

Four accused -- Raju Muval, Raju Pasla, Nitin Shaha and Judista Shetty -- were charged with rape and murder of the 10-year-old girl on March 3, 2004, at her residence in Betul when her parents were away.

The court, however, acquitted Nitin Shaha and Judista Shetty on July 4, while it issued a non-bailable warrant against the absconding accused, Raju Muval.

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