A court here yesterday sentenced nine people to life term imprisonment in a case for killing a man in Ishwarganj upazila in 2003. The convicts are Akram Hossain, Giasuddin, Emdadul Haque, Ershadul Haque, Saidul Islam, Bachhu Miah, Idris Ali, Jewel and Helal Uddin. The court also fined them Tk5000 each, in default, to suffer three more months in prison. During the verdict, Giasuddin, Emdadul Haque and Ershadul Haque were present and they were sent to Mymensingh jail while the others were tried in absentia, court sources said. All the convicts hail from Bhatirchar Naupara village in Ishwarganj. Fourteen other accused in the case were acquitted as allegations were not proved against them. Two accused of the case died during the trial period. According to the prosecution, there had been a long standing dispute over a piece of land between Shahjalal and his neighbours at Bhatirchar Naupara village.  Following the dispute, the rivals locked in an altercation with Shahjalal and at one stage, they attacked Shahjalal with sharp weapons on May 18, 2003 and killed him. Victim’s wife Noor Jahan lodged a case was with Ishwarganj Police Station the following day accusing 25 persons including the convicts of the murder. After examining witnesses and evidence, Mohammad Johirul Kabir, judge of Second Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court, found the eight guilty and pronounced the verdict.