HC confirms death sentence of accused in Aluva murder case

Kochi, Sep 18: The Kerala High Court today confirmed the death sentence of Anthappa alias Antony in the sensational Aluva murder case, in which six members of a family were hacked to death in 2001.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice V K Bali and Justice M Ramachandran dismissed the appeal filed by Antony challenging the judgement of the CBI Special Judge, Ernakulam.

The High Court confirmed the conviction and sentence of the accused for murdering the six-member family of Manjooran Veetil Augustine on January six, 2001.

Regarding the sentence, the HC said by causing the death of six members of a family, the accused acted in a most cruel and diabolic manner. ''He had no respect, no care, no dignity, no mercy for human life. His living is most dangerous to the society.'' The prosecution case was that in order to get funds to meet visa expenses to go abroad for employment, the accused tresspassed into the house of the victims at Aluva near here and chopped off Augustine, his wife Mary, children Divya and Jesman, Augustine's sister Kochu Rani and mother Clara one by one and thereafter stole money and gold ornaments.

The case was initially investigated by the local police and the accused was arrested on February 18, 2002. Subsequently on the basis of a petition filed by the victims' relatives, the High Court entrusted the case with CBI.

On November 24, the Chennai Special Crime Unit of the CBI filed a chargesheet confirming the finding of the local police and the Crime Branch. CBI Special Judge, Ernakulam found the accused guilty and he was awarded capital punishment on February two, 2005.

Confirming the findings of the CBI Judge, the high court said that the CBI had succeeded in proving the circumstances as a chain of events.

Apart from scientific evidence like thumb impression, fingerprint and the DNA test report, the High Court also considered the entire judicial confession of the accused before Dr Anilakumari, Asst.

Surgeon, taluk hospital Aluva, and Ms Jayanti, Metropolitan Magistrate, Chennai, as most relevant.

UNI