Madikeri: Death for 2 in murder case

Madikeri, Karnataka, Aug 12: A local court pronounced death sentence to two people while releasing four other accused in the 2004 Madappa Murder Case.

District and Sessions Judge Venkatesh awarded death sentences to A Subash and Devaiah yesterday finding them guilty of the crime while other accused Robin, Prabhu, Shekar and Den Thimmaiah were released for lack of evidence.

Madappa and A Subash were close friends. But a suspicion that Subash was responsible for the victim's removal as a resort manager led to frequent clashes between groups led by them.

On February 29,2004 when Madappa and his friends emerged from a hotel in the night, Subash and his friends K K Devaiah and Robin, waiting in a jeep, opened fire at Madappa from a revolver and a single barrel gun, killing him on the spot.

After a four year trial, Subash and Devaiah were sentenced to death by the court.

Madappa's friends Sanju Ponnappa and Madhu were with him at the time of the incident. Sanju lodged a complaint with the police.

The jeep was traced the next day to Chettalli. Devaiah was arrested from an estate house after two days. Police formed three groups to arrest Robin and Subash. They were arrested at Sullya Bus Depot on March 12 the same year.

Cases were also booked against Robin, Prabhu, Shekar, Den Thimmaiah and Bopanna. While Bopanna was murdered, others were released for lack of evidence.

The main accused Subash was released on bail during the course of the case.

Meanwhile, Sanju lodged a complaint with the police stating Subash threatened him to go back on his witness statement. Later, Subash was was again jailed.

Sanju went back on his earlier statement and said he had not witnessed the murder.

He, however, admitted lying to court about witnessing the murder after being threatened by the main accused. The court registered a case against Samju Ponnappa now under Sec CrPC 344.

UNI