Noida, India. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia
A couple have been found guilty of the murder of their 14-year-old daughter and their 45-year old servant Hemraj Banjade at their Noida home in 2008.
Arushi Talwar was found with her throat slit in her bedroom of the family’s suburban home. Police first suspected the housekeeper who had also disappeared, but his body was later discovered on the terrace of the Talwar home, leading to accusations that they had bungled the original investigation.
Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are both high profile dentists in Noida and the trial has captivated the public a cross India. They became suspects early on in the investigation due to the surgical nature of the cut to their daughter’s throat, which police believed implied the murderer was trained in the medical profession, with “Honour killing” a proposed motive.
After being convicted the couple said in a statement that they were “hurt and anguished” and would appeal the decision.
They will be sentenced on Tuesday, with the death penalty currently on the table as a possibility.
