MUMBAI, July 31: The city civil and sessions court today sentenced a person to life imprisonment for stabbing his friend to death 13 years ago.

Additional sessions judge J W Singh convicted Andrew Albert Anthony for murdering 25-year-old Sunil Dattatraya Nandrekar in 1984 at Borivli but acquitted his aide Nagraj Basappa Acharya giving him benefit of doubt.

Anthony, Acharya, Belekar and Nandrekar were residents of Rajendra Nagar, Dattapada road, Borivli east and knew each other. Apparently, the deceased had seen Anthony's sister with Acharya and had told Anthony about it. Both Anthony and Acharya were not pleased with Nandrekar's interference.

On July 11, 1984, Nandrekar, Acharya and Belekar had met at a country liquor bar in Borivli where the latter had drinks . The trio then met Anthony at around 7.30 pm at a paan shop. An argument broke between Anthony, Acharya and Nandrekar over the same issue and Belekar tried to pacify them. The quarreling trio stabbed Nandrekar thrice in his chest. Anthony and Acharya then fled the spot while Belekar rushed Nadrekar to hospital . Before succumbing to his injuries Nandrekar had told the police that Anthony had stabbed him. Special public prosecutor Vishwas R Patil represented the state while advocate Pradip Mahajan and Kishor Sutrale defended the accused.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.