By Express News Service
VIJAYAWADA: When the Mahila sessions court judge M Babitha said that cases filed against the accused in the murder of 10-year-old P Naga Vaishnavi were proved, and asked them to speak a few words before reading the judgment, one of the accused, Pandi Venkata Rao, brother-in-law of the victim’s father, Palagani Prabhakara Rao, and the mastermind behind the gruesome murder, said that he was innocent. “I’m innocent. I have done nothing. Please leave me. I have a family to look after,” he pleaded.
Senior lawyer Pichuka Srinivas said, “It is routine, every judge asks an accused to speak a few words before pronouncing the judgement.”
All the three accused requested the judge to acquit them in the case on humanitarian grounds. Accused Morla Srinivasa Rao said, “I have a wife and two children. They are depended on me. Please leave me.”
However, the second accused, Yemparala Jagadish, who killed Vaishnavi for Rs 5 lakhs, seemed to have no remorse.
Justice Babitha continued the court session after hearing their pleas, and pronounced life imprisonment till death to the accused.
