Palakkad (Kerala): A court here on Saturday verdict life imprisonment to a 54-year-old man for murdering a woman at Ponthundi near Nenmara in 2019. The Additional District and Sessions Court-IV Judge, Kenneth George, sentenced Chenthamara under IPC Sections 302 (murder) and 449 (house trespass).
Additional sentences and fine
The court also handed him five years’ imprisonment under IPC Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and imposed a total fine of Rs 3.15 lakh for various offences. All sentences will run concurrently. As recovery of the fine from the convict is unlikely, the court instructed the District Legal Services Authority to provide financial assistance to the deceased’s family.
Details of the crime
According to the prosecution, in 2019, Chenthamara hacked to death Sajitha (36), wife of Sudhakaran, at Ponthundi. After being released on bail, he allegedly killed Sudhakaran (53) and his mother Lakshmi (72) earlier this year near their home.
Police said Chenthamara harboured animosity towards Sudhakaran’s family, believing his wife and children had left him due to their interference.
Family reaction and support
Sajitha’s two daughters, Athuliya and Akhila, present in court to hear the verdict, expressed satisfaction with the judgment. “Our only demand is that he should never be released. We are afraid of what might happen if he comes out. We hope he receives the maximum punishment in the double-murder case,” they said.
A relative urged that the orphaned children be protected and supported by the government, noting they have no one to look after them.