The channels got copies of the CDs after these were made available to the accused along with other documents on the directions of the Ernakulam chief judicial magistrate, who is hearing the 17-year-old murder case.

However, almost two hours after the channels began airing the same, the court directed them to stop it as the case was still on trial.

What the channels aired virtually confirmed what the CBI had been claiming about the involvement of the three accused in the crime.

All the three accused — Fr Thomas M Kottoor, Fr Jose Puthrukayil and Sister Sephy —  were seen to be admitting their involvement in Sr Abhaya’s murder.  Fr Puthrukayil says an axe or hammer was used to strike the nun. They also said the nun’s body was lifted by “two-three persons” and dropped into the well of the Pius Tenth Convent in Kottayam, the scene of the crime.

Sister Sephy says she had a “love affair” with the two priests and that it was she who opened the backdoor of the convent for the priests to come in on the night that Abhaya died.

The tests were conducted at the Forensic Science Lab in Bangalore by Dr S Malini, the then assistant director, with assistance from Krishnaveni. The priests were asked questions in English while Sr Sephy was asked in Malayalam.

The contents of the CDs had been leaked out much before the CBI charge sheeted the accused. The CBI case is that Abhaya came down to the kitchen of the convent in the wee hours of March 27, 1992, when she saw the three accused in a compromising position.  The trio confronted her and one of them struck her with a hand-held axe on the head. Later, the three of them threw her body into the well. As reported, the case which was dismissed as suicide by the State Crime Branch police was later found to be  “murder” by the CBI.