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Boy’s testimony sends parents’ killers to jail
Ibrahim Beig was just four years old when he saw two robbers bludgeon his parents to death with a spade in his Bandra flat. But even after seven years, Ibrahim still recognises his parents’ killers.
Ibrahim Beig was just four years old when he saw two robbers bludgeon his parents to death with a spade in his Bandra flat. But even after seven years, Ibrahim still recognises his parents’ killers.
On Thursday, the sessions court sentenced Manoj Chaudhary (26) and Riyaz Qureishi (30) to life imprisonment for the double murders.
On March 21, 2002, a resident of Al-Hilal building called the police and said that a doctor couple had not stepped out of their house for two days.
The police broke open the door and were shocked to find Ibrahim sitting next to the partially decomposed bodies of his parents Dr Hanif Beig (35), a private practitioner, and Dr Zarina (30), who worked at Parel’s KEM Hospital.
Investigations revealed that robbery was the motive.
The police got a breakthrough when they arrested Chaudhary and Qureishi in another robbery case. During interrogation, the duo confessed to having murdered the Beigs.
They said they had entered the flat assuming the residents were not at home. But when they saw the couple, they assaulted them with a spade.
They spared Ibrahim, but threatened him with dire consequences if he told anyone about the incident.
During the seven-year trial, the prosecution examined 21 witnesses, but it was the boy’s testimony that nailed the duo.
In 2007, Ibrahim told the court that Chaudhary and Qureishi had entered the house at 1.30 am and beat his parents to death with a spade.
“They then opened the cupboard door, threw clothes around and took something,” Ibrahim had testified.
