The Thiruvananthapuram Second Additional Sessions Court on Wednesday convicted two men in a case involving the murder of 45-year-old Maryadas and the grievous attack on his wife Sheeja at Koliyoor three years back.
The Judge Mini.S.Das said that charges of murder, rape and robbery levelled against Anilkumar, alias Kolus Binu, 40, of Vattappara and Chandrasekharan, alias Chandran, 37, of Vellore in Tamil Nadu, by the prosecution have been proved beyond doubt. Their sentences will be pronounced on Thursday.
The duo have been charged under the sections 449 (House-trespass in order to commit offence punishable with death), 302 (murder), 307 (Attempt to murder), 397 (Robbery), 376A (Rape) and 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
The incident which sent shockwaves in the region happened on July 7, 2016. The children of the household woke up at around 4.30 a.m to see their parents lying beside in a pool of blood. According to the prosecution, the duo had entered the house through the kitchen door with the intention of theft.
Heavy hammer
They struck with a heavy hammer on Maryadas’s head to murder him. Anilkumar later attacked his wife with the same weapon to make her unconscious and rape her. Her gold chain and two gold crosses stored in the shelf were stolen and sold at a jewellery in Tirunelveli.
Anilkumar had been a neighbour of the victims for a short while two years before the murder.
During his stay, Anilkumar and his wife Priyanka had maintained a cordial relationship with the victim’s family.
However, Maryadas cut off his ties with the neighbours after learning of Anilkumar’s involvement in several theft cases reported in the locality.
Following the murder, a special investigation team was formed and the culprits were nabbed within 48 hours. A total of 76 witnesses, 99 documents and 49 material objects were examined. The involvement of the duo in the crime was proved from the blood stains in the weapon and DNA samples.
Seeks leniency
The first accused Anilkumar requested the court for a lenient sentence considering that fact that he is the father of a five-year old. The second accused Chandrasekhar said that he is ready to accept any verdict.