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A court in India has dismissed an appeal against extradition by a man wanted for trial in the UK over the rape and murder of Hannah Foster.

Maninder Pal Singh Kohli's lawyer had claimed his client would not get a fair trial in the UK, but the decision means he could be extradited within days.

Hannah Foster, 17, was murdered after a night out in Southampton in 2003.

Mr Kohli, 39, who says he is innocent, left the UK two days after the killing but was arrested in India in July 2004.

The BBC learned Mr Kohli's lawyers claimed he would not get a fair trial in the UK because of a "bias against Asians there".


We welcome the decision of the Indian authorities to extradite Maninder Pal Singh Kohli
Hampshire Constabulary

But the chief justices of the Supreme Court dismissed these arguments, saying this was a "very heinous crime" and Mr Kohli must go back to England and face the charges.

A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary said: "We welcome the decision of the Indian authorities to extradite Maninder Pal Singh Kohli to stand trial in relation to the abduction, rape and murder of Hannah Foster.

"Hampshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service are liaising with the Home Office and with the British High Commission and the Ministry of External Affairs in India to facilitate process of bringing Kohli to the UK."

In a statement, the Home Office said: "This outcome brings an end to the challenges which Mr Kohli has raised to his extradition.

"Arrangements are now in hand for his return to the UK."

Hannah Foster
Hannah was killed after a night out in Southampton

Mr Kohli had challenged the validity of the extradition order - granted in early June - on the grounds there was no direct evidence connecting him to the crime.

His lawyer, Charanjeet Singh Bakshi, had said "the other evidence used to link him with the murder - DNA samples and the route taken by him to flee Britain - had not been satisfactorily explained".

The extradition process has involved more than 100 court appearances.

Hannah's parents, Trevor and Hilary, have travelled to India three times to appeal for Mr Kohli's extradition.

Mr Foster said: "We're delighted obviously. It is the last hurdle in terms of extradition."

Raped and strangled

Hannah was abducted near her home in Portswood on 14 March, 2003.

Her body was found two days later and a post-mortem examination revealed she had been raped and strangled.

Mr Kohli, who worked as a driver in Britain, left the country for India after he was identified as the prime suspect.

He was arrested in the eastern state of West Bengal, near the border with Nepal, more than a year later.