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Crime

Man jailed for killing Southampton teenager

25/11/2008

A man has been jailed for life after being found guilty of abducting, raping and killing Southampton teenager Hannah Foster.

Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, 41, was found guilty at Winchester crown court on Tuesday of killing the 17-year-old in 2003.

Hannah had been out with a friend in Southampton and was last seen when the pair parted ways at 22:50 GMT on March 13th 2003.

Her body was found dumped by a roadside two days later.

The court heard how Kohli snatched Hannah just yards from her house, before raping and killing her.

The van driver then fled to India but the teenager's parents helped tack him down, although it took years for the Indian courts to agree to his extradition.

Kohli previously denied false imprisonment, kidnap, rape and murder, despite appearing on Indian television to admit abducting the teenager.

Despite jurors not being permitted to view the footage they unanimously found Kohli guilty.

Speaking outside the courthouse this afternoon, Hannah's father Trevor Foster said the family were physically and emotionally exhausted and had "waited six years for this moment".

He described Kohli as a "bully" who prayed on the weak and said that "finally justice has caught up with him".