Aarushi Talwar case: parents Rajesh, Nupur sentenced to life in prison

Ghaziabad: Nupur and Rajesh Talwar have been sentenced to life in prison by a court in Uttar Pradesh for the twin murders of their daughter Aarushi and their domestic help Hemraj Banjade in 2008.

The CBI, which investigated the case, had asked for the death penalty. (Track LIVE updates)

Lawyers for the Talwars say they will appeal against the verdict  in the Allahabad High Court.

The Talwars were taken from court back to the jail in Ghaizabad near Delhi, where they were moved yesterday after they were convicted of murder and destruction of evidence. Jail officials say Mrs Talwar has been unwell with high blood pressure.The couple has refused meals, they said, and was seen weeping silently for several hours. (Watch: Nupur Talwar was unwell, says jail official)

Judge Shyam Lal accepted the CBI's theory that the Talwars killed Hemraj and Aarushi with a golf club after finding them  in "an objectionable position" at their apartment in 2008. (Aarushi case: 'freaks in the history of mankind', says judge)

Aarushi, their only child, was days away from her 14th birthday.

The case has been engulfed with allegations of police incompetence; supporters of the Talwars have accused the media of a witch-hunt.

In the absence of forensic or material evidence, the judge accepted the CBI's "last-seen theory" which holds that the victims were last seen with the Talwars.

When Aarushi was found dead, the police blamed Hemraj, who was missing. But his decomposing body was found on the roof a day later. Mr Talwar spent two months in jail before the CBI said it had no evidence against him. (Case timeline)

Then, his dental assistant and two other domestic helpers -- Hemraj's friends - were arrested, but they were freed for lack of evidence.

The botched probe -- police failed to seal the crime scene or find Hemraj's for over 24 hours -- prompted investigators to close the case in 2010.

The Talwars insisted they wanted the killers found and petitioned the court to reopen the case - only to be charged with murder themselves.