Ernakulum, Kerala: A 23-year-old migrant labourer from Assam convicted of rape and murder has been awarded a death sentence by a court in Kochi today. Ameer-ul-Islam had raped and murdered Kerala law student Jisha in April last year. He was convicted of murder, rape, wrongful confinement and trespassing on Tuesday.
Jisha was found dead inside her home in Ernakulam and bore signs of strangling. Her body was found with her intestines hanging out and at least 30 wounds all over her. About 50 days after the murder, the police arrested Ameer-ul-Islam, a neighbour, and said he entered Jisha's house to rape her but killed her with a sharp object when she resisted.
More than 100 policemen questioned over 1,500 people and fingerprints of over 5,000 people were examined by a Special Investigation Team that went through over 20 lakh telephonic conversations before zeroing in on Ameer.
The police said blood-stained footwear found from a canal near Jisha's house was a important piece of evidence in identifying the accused.
Jisha's rape and murder sent shock waves and triggered massive protests across Kerala.
