Court awards life sentence for murdering girlfriend

Shillong, Jan 7 (UNI) A lower court in Meghalaya today sentenced Tenderly Hynniewta to life imprisonment and three years of additional jail term along with a fine of Rs 6000 for the ''cold-blooded murder'' of a women six years ago.

Pronouncing the judgment, Additional District and Sessions Judge Wanlura Diengdoh said the accused had committed the ''cold-blooded murder'' and deserved life imprisonment.

The judge, however, overruled the public prosecutor's plea for death sentence, saying it was not the ''rarest of the rare'' case.

Tenderly was pardoned off the death sentence owing to having no prior criminal record and showing remorse for his crime, the judge said while pronouncing the verdict.

Twenty-five-year-old Tenderly was convicted under Section 302 IPC for murder and 201 IPC for concealment of murder weapon by the court.

The court also imposed a fine of Rs 6000 on him.

Default in payment of the fine would cost Tenderly an additional jail term of one-and-half-years.

On September 6, 2002, Tenderly Hynniewta had murdered his pregnant girlfriend Corphilia Nongkynrih by slitting her throat at a graveyard at Lawmali - a suburb here.

However, he was granted bail despite evidence of his involvement in the killing.

Emerging from the daylong trial, Corphilla's mother M Nongkynrih said, ''I am very happy with the verdict. I couldnot have asked for more. He deserves the punishment for killing my young daughter.'' Corphilla's younger sister, Eva Nongkynrih, also present during the trial, was jubilant with the verdict. ''We have been all patiently waiting for six years for this day. Today we are all so happy by this verdict,'' she said.

Meanwhile, the defence of Tenderly said they would appeal in the High Court against the verdict of the Lower Court.

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