Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Dec 12: The district and sessions court, through a verdict, has sentenced the accused Anand Poojary (29) to life imprisonment for murdering an old lady who looked after him like her own son. He has also been fined Rs 5,000 and a further six months imprisonment on failure to pay the fine. A year's rigorous imprisonment has also been prescribed for concealing evidence.

Anand Poojary, son of Jabba Poojary, had murdered Dorothy Cutinho (60) who used to treat him like her own son, at Cutinho Villa located in Nejar Kelarkalabettu on March 1, 2006. He had committed her murder by asphyxiating her, but tried to project it to be a case of death due to cardiac arrest.

Dorothy, a spinster, lived with her ill brother Rudolph Cutinho. She brought up Anand Poojary like her own son since his childhood and he too cared for the old lady and her ailing brother. She had nominated Anand to receive half of her property and deposits. Either because of some instigations or doubting that the property might elude him, Poojary murdered Dorothy, who was ill then.

After a person named Antony Cutinho filed a complaint, Malpe police registered the case. The then circle inspector Vishwanath Pandit conducted investigation and filed charge sheet in the court. Public prosecutor J I Kittur represented the prosecution.