Singaporean Ram Tiwary acquitted of double murder - 27Jul2012

	Singaporean Ram Tiwary acquitted of double murder - 27Jul2012 SYDNEY: An appeals court in Australia has acquitted Singaporean Ram Puneet Tiwary, who was twice convicted of murdering his two flatmates in Sydney. The 33 year old has spent more than eight years behind bars and will likely go free. Tiwary was accused of murdering fellow Singaporeans Tay Chow Lyang and Tony Tan Poh Chuan, both aged 26, in 2003. The two were stabbed and clubbed to death with a baseball bat. All three were studying at the University of New South Wales at the time. Tiwary was convicted of both murders in 2006 and given a life sentence without parole. He successfully appealed, but faced a retrial in 2009. He was again found guilty, and this time, handed a jail term of 48 years. Tiwary has maintained his innocence, claiming he was asleep at the time of the brutal attacks. But prosecutors said Tiwary killed his flatmates over money he owed in rent, said to be more than US$5000. The three-judge panel in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal on Thursday quashed both murder convictions and acquitted him on both counts. The appeals court is expected to reveal the reasons for the acquittal at a later date. Channel NewsAsia spoke to Tiwary's cousin, as well as the family members of one of the victims. The parents of Tony Tan Poh Chuan, Tan Wee Sea and Chiew Lee Hua, said that they were shocked and upset when they learnt about Tiwary's acquittal. While it has been more than eight years, they still mourn the loss of their only son. Ms Chiew Lee Hua said: "Losing a son is <b>...</b>	From: 154thmedia2012 Views: 13 0 ratings
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