A method includes the steps of: i) listing out all possibilities for first symbol of a two stream signal; ii) determining a second symbol of the two stream signal for each said first symbol listed out, iii) evaluating a metric for each said first symbol and second symbol pair, iv) determining the exact maximum log likelihood ratio for all bits associated with said first symbol using said metrics, v) decoding a codeword-1 using the maximum log likelihood ratios, vi) re-encoding said codeword-1, vii) modulating said re-encoded codeword-1, viii) subtracting said modulated re-encoded codeword-1 from said two stream signal, ix) determining metrics for all possibilities for second symbol in the signal obtained in viii, x) determining the maximum log likelihood ratios for all bits associated with second symbol, and xi) decoding said codeword-2 using the maximum log likelihood ratios for all bits associated with said second symbol.