Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Aug 24: The chief district and sessions court has given life term imprisonment to a woman accused of killing her husband by fastening a nylon rope tightly around his neck. Prashanti (23), reisding in Karimanelu village, Punjalkatte in Beltangady taluk, had been accused of killing her husband, Harish Naik (44), on June 20, 2014. The court, which found that the charge levelled against her has been proved, convicted her for murder through a judgement passed on Tuesday August 23.

Harish had married Prashanti after falling in love with her at a temple in Karimanelu on January 2, 2012. Both belonged to different castes. They had set up home in a rented house at Karimanelu Punjalbail Hosahoklu, and in course of time, got a girl child. Prashanti was later accused of murdering her husband when he was asleep at home at 3 pm on June 20, 2014. After asphyxiating Harish to death, she went to the house of Harish's elder sister, Sharada, and told her that her husband, who came home and slept at 3 pm, was not responding to efforts made to wake him up.

The then police sub-inspector of Venoor station, Abdul Khader, who registered the case and conducted investigation, succeeded in reaching the bottom of the problem.

During the hearing, the prosecution had examined a total of 17 witnesses. Chief district and sessions judge, K S Bilagi, who heard the arguments and verified evidences, handed down life term imprisonment to the accused, and also imposed fine of one lac rupees. In case of failure to pay fine, Prashanti has been ordered to undergo an additional year in jail.

The court has ordered payment of Rs 98,000 out of the above fine to the three-and-half year-old child of the couple. He also mentioned that the child is eligible to claim compensation from the compensation fund under Criminal Procedure Code section 357A.

The prosecution was represented in this case by public prosecutor, Pushparaj Adyantaya.