Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 17: The first additional district and sessions court here has sentenced a man and his mother to life term imprisonments for murdering the man's wife with a sickle about five years ago.

Raveesh (43), resident of Apperipade in Vittal Casba village, Bantwal taluk, and his mother, Parvathi(60), have been awarded life terms for the above crime.

Raveesh and Parvathi frequently expressed suspicion about the character of Raveesh's wife, Saraswathi, and fights on this issue erupted often on this issue. On February 17, 2011 too quarrel broke out on this issue, which worsened soon after which the mother-son duo attacked Saraswathi and killed her with a sickle. Saraswathi had 18 stab marks on her body.

Saraswathi's father, Poovappa Nayaka, had filed complaint in Vittal police station and both the accused were arrested the same night.

The court, which conducted proceedings, found the accused guilty of committing the crime, and handed down life term imprisonments along with fine of Rs 5,000 to both of them. If they fail to pay fine, they have been ordered to undergo three more months of imprisonment.

Interestingly, Rohitashwa, four-year-old son of the deceased woman, played a key role in sealing the fates of his father and grandmother in the murder case. Although neighbours of the family gave contradicting accounts, Rohitashwa stood firm on his version about the incident which helped in convicting the accused. Now the boy is nine-year-old.

Initially, public prosecutor, Pushpraj Adyantaya, had begun examination of one of the witnesses. Raju Poojary Bannadi, who took up the task of examining the other witnesses, completed the work and placed his arguments in the court. A total of 23 witnesses were examined in the case.

The court also has recommended to decide a justified amount of compensation in consultation with the district legal services authority to meet the expenses and rehabilitation of the child.