New Delhi, Delhi High Court Wednesday sentenced Manu Sharma to life imprisonment for murdering ramp model Jessica Lall in 1999, ending a crusade for justice that pitted much of the society against the rich and mighty.

Judges R.S. Sodhi and P.K. Bhasin, however, rejected the prosecution's demand for death for Congress leader Venod Sharma's son, saying it was not the "rarest of rare cases" deserving capital punishment and there was a possibility of the convict getting reformed in prison.

The judges, delivering one of India's most awaited rulings, also jailed for four years each two other accused, Vikas Yadav and Amardeep Singh Gill.

Yadav, also a politician's son who faces murder charges in another case, and Gill, a former corporate executive, were accused of destroying evidence to save their friend Manu, a 29-year-old who hailed from one of the richest and most well connected families in the country.

All three men were driven away to the Tihar Central Jail in a police van to begin their prison terms.

Manu Sharma was also fined Rs.50,000, to be paid to the family of Jessica, who he shot from close range in April 1999 at the posh Tamarind Court restaurant, which has since closed, after she refused him a drink.

"The murder, though intentional, has been committed without pre-meditation. We feel the ends of the justice would be met if the convict Manu Sharma is awarded the sentence of imprisonment for life," said the two judges, who had convicted him on murder charges two days ago.

"Yet there is no material on record to suggest that Manu Sharma would continue to commit acts of violence that would constitute the threat to the society."

Jessica's sister Sabrina was jubilant. She campaigned tirelessly for justice along with a large numbers of friends and complete strangers after a lower court shockingly freed all the accused in February.

"It is a feeling of relief and happiness for us. I could not have asked for more from god," Sabrina told journalists. "I wanted him to get life imprisonment so that he could suffer all his life. I do not believe in death sentence."

On their part, the judges admitted that the acquittal of all the accused in the murder case had shaken the public faith in the criminal justice delivery system.

Others expressed sentiments similar to Jessica's.

Businessman Atul Thakur told IANS: "The judgement emboldens the faith of the common man in the judiciary. Justice in our country may be delayed but is not denied.

"The life sentence will make the pampered youths think twice before committing any rash act. It will also make the lower courts think twice before delivering verdicts on such heinous crime."

Thursday's judgement was a stunning blow to the Sharma family. Venod Sharma was until recently a cabinet minister in Haryana and one of the most powerful politicians in the state.

And in a path-breaking decision, the high court also directed Delhi Police to take action against all those witnesses who turned hostile during the trial. The court asked 32 such witnesses, including Bollywood actor Shayan Munshi, to appear before it Feb 1.

The judges said these witnesses had "vitiated the administration of justice by not supporting the case".

The Indian government is already planning to come up with legislation that will make it tough for prosecution witnesses to turn hostile.

The much-maligned Delhi Police patted itself on the back for the murder investigation.

For college students who waged a battle for "Justice to Jessica" after February, the verdict was a pointer that other cases could go this way too.

"We are happy. We only wanted a fair trial in the case," said Dhruv Suri, a third year law student of Indraprastha University. "I hope the courts will also give a fair trial to the thousands of other cases that are pending."

"This is the second victory for us after the Priyadarshini Mattoo case," said another student, Adiya Raj Kaul, referring to the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh in the rape and murder of Delhi student Priyadarshini Mattoo.