The case of 17 Indians who were given death sentence by Sharjah Court of First Instance for allegedly killing a Pakistani national in January 2009, has been fixed on 19th May for next hearing. According to a statement of Indian Consulate in Dubai today, the Government of India hired the law firm Mohammad Salman Advocates and Legal Consultants, Sharjah to defend the accused due to extraordinary nature of the sentence. The appeal against the verdict of the Sharjah Court of First Instance was supported by the Government of India, given the sentiments in India and within the local Indian community that the accused be given another opportunity to prove their innocence. Eleven hearings of the case have been held so far and 12th hearing was held Thursday morning. The 16 convicts are from the Punjab and one is from Haryana.