Aarushi Talwar murder case: Indian dentists Rajesh and Nupur Talwar convicted of killing their daughter and housekeeper

Rajesh and Nupur Talwar found guilty of killing daughter Aarushi and servant Hemraj in murder mystery that has gripped nation for five years

Rajesh Talwar, right, and his wife Nupur, centre, are driven away by Indian police outside a court after their trial for double murder in Ghaziabad, India (AP)

A couple have been found guilty of killing their 14-year-old daughter and a housekeeper, finally providing a verdict to the murder mystery that has gripped India for the last five and a half years.

Dentists Rajesh and Nupur Talwar wept in court today as they were convicted of murder, destroying evidence and misleading investigators.

In 2008 their only daughter Aarushi was found with her throat slit and having suffered a fatal head wound in the family home in the affluent town of Noida, near Delhi.

Initially, police named family servant Hemraj as their prime suspect – but a day later, his body was also discovered.

At an early stage in the investigation, police alleged that father Rajesh had murdered his daughter after finding the pair in what was described as a compromising situation.

Both parents were later charged, but the Talwars have always said they were not guilty and that the sensational, pervasive media coverage of the case in India had demonised them and damaged their defence.

The couple issued a statement after their conviction in which they continue to deny the murders. Sentencing is set to take place on Tuesday, and they could receive life sentences or even the death penalty.

“We are deeply disappointed, hurt and anguished for being convicted for a crime that we have not committed,” the Talwars said. “We refuse to feel defeated and will continue to fight for justice.”

They claimed the prosecution had been marred by botched police operations, arrests, “truth serum” tests and contradictory rulings by different investigative bodies.

Much has been made in the media of the fact that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), India's federal detective agency, relied on circumstantial evidence to pursue the Talwars.

R.K. Saini, representing the CBI, defended the prosecution.

“There were so many circumstances that proved that no one could have committed the murder other than the two accused,” he said. “The court has convicted them after going through the chain of circumstantial evidence.”

Rebecca John, one of the lawyers representing the Talwars, said they would appeal the ruling in a higher court.