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Nepal apex court thwarts Sobhraj's hopes for freedom

December 06, 2011 18:31 IST

Bikini killer Charles Sobhraj's hopes for an early release from jail were dashed after the Nepalese Supreme Court quashed a review petition moved by the notorious international criminal.

The apex court on Monday quashed the review petition filed by Sobhraj seeking a fresh look into his sentencing, court sources said.

Sobhraj, 67, who has been convicted in the 1975 murder of American woman Connie Joe Bronzich, is serving a life term in the central jail of Kathmandu for the last eight years.

He had challenged the apex court's verdict and sought a review of the judgment that had upheld the lower court's verdict and convicted him of the murder of the American woman.

The decision was taken by a single bench comprising Justice Bharat Raj Upreti of the Supreme Court.

After the court verdict, there is no other way for the international criminal, who is also known as the 'serpent', to get an early release, except pleading for a presidential pardon.

Shirish B Pradhan In Kathmandu