The family members of the two Haryana-based businessmen, killed in the Connaught Place shooting 10 years ago, on Wednesday said death penalty would have been better to the poliemen who were handed out life sentences by a court in New Delhi.

"I have lost my husband I can't get him back. Though I was hoping for death penalty to the convicts, still, I am happy with the judgement at the end of 10-year-long battle," Neema Goyal, wife of slain businessman, Pradeep Goyal said.

Niranjan Singh, father of another victim Jagjit Singh, reciting a poem in Punjabi, extended a million thanks to the judiciary.

He said, "Though I expected a stricter penalty, I am happy with the sentence given to them. My whole life and family had been ruined. We think, the government should compensate us."

Kartar Singh, 104-year-old father-in-law of Jagjit Singh, said the loss suffered by the family cannot be compensated.

"The minimum sentence should have been death," he said, adding that the convicts should also feel what death means."

Brother of Pradeep Goyal hailed the decision of the court, maintaining that at least the then ACP Rathi, under whose supervision the whole operation was undertaken on March 31, 1997, should have been given death sentence.

"It is a landmark judgment, which would deter the policemen from misusing the power vested in them," he said, adding that we will chase the convicts up to the Supreme Court, if they challenge the judgment in higher courts.