Neelam Katara, mother of Nitish Katara, on Wednesday said that had justice been delivered in time in the Jessica Lal murder case, her son would have been alive today.      

Vikas Yadav, who was on Wednesday sentenced to 4 years imprisonment in the Jessica Lal murder case, is a key accused in the Nitish Katara murder case.

"I never lost faith in Indian judicial system. I always had faith in it. In a way my faith has strengthened now. But there is a regret because had this judgment delivered timely and Vikas not been out on bail, my son will have been alive today," she said hours after the sentencing in the Jessica case was pronounced by the Delhi High Court.

Nitish Katara, a MBA student and son of an IAS officer, was killed on February 17, 2002. Vikas and his cousin Vishal have been accused of killing Nitish as they were against his friendship with their sister Bharti.

Neelam Katara, who is in Goa, said the conviction of the accused in the Jessica case has sent a strong message that whenever they suffer they should fight for justice.

"The judgment will be a big deterrent for those people who decide to take murder as a pass time," she said.

Asked about witness protection law as favoured by socialite Bina Ramani, a key witness in the Jessica Lal case, Katara admitted that such legislation was needed but added that making an Act was not enough.

"They such laws need to be practical than just be protective in nature. I feel people need to feel secure to speak truth. If people are happy to accept money to tell lie then I don't think any witness protection law will help," she noted.