Verdict in Latvian woman rape & murder case likely today

Thiruvananthapuram: The first additional district sessions court here has adjourned the verdict in the Latvian woman rape and murder case for Tuesday after the ‘question on sentence’ session on Monday.
During the session, judge K Sanil Kumar heard the prosecution and the defence on the possible sentence to be imposed on the accused.
The prosecution pleaded before the court to consider it as the rarest of the rare offence and to give maximum punishment, not less than a life term, to the accused. “There are certain characteristics mentioned by the apex court to consider a case as rarest of the rare. The apex court also recommends considering the age, position, job, education, etc, of the accused while pronouncing the sentence in rarest of the rare cases. The prosecution argued before the court that the case meets all conditions to be considered as rarest of the rare, and by considering the age and education, a maximum punishment must be given,” said O Mohan Raj, special public prosecutor.
The judge then asked the accused, “Do you repent for the misdeed?” The accused immediately said “yes”, but the defence counsel intervened and said that the accused do not repent as they are innocent. The court then reminded them that they are accused of an offence that could attract capital punishment.
The defence counsel then pleaded with the court not to pronounce a verdict in a case which does not have the backing of eyewitnesses or accurate scientific evidence. The case is backed only by circumstantial evidence and it questions the very existence of the case. Taking this into account, the court shall free the accused and dispose of the case, pleaded the counsel.
The accused Umesh (32) of Vellar and Udayakumar (28) of Thiruvallam were also asked about their educational qualifications by the judge. Umesh studied only till Class VIII. The court adjourned the verdict after hearing both sides. On Friday, the court found them guilty of the charges for drugging, raping and murdering the woman. The 33-year-old Latvian national had travelled to Kerala for an Ayurvedic treatment on February 3, 2018. She went missing from an Ayurveda hospital at Kovalam on March 14, 2018. Later, her decomposed body was recovered from a mangrove at Panathura on April 20.