The court also imposed a fine of 5 lakh rupees for murder, 1 lakh for burglary and a fine of 50,000 rupees for destruction of evidence on convicts.
On Tuesday, the court held that Sister Abhaya’s mysterious death at the St. Pius Convent in Kottayam in 1992 was murder and found Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy guilty of murder and destruction of evidence.
IWC special judge K Sanil Kumar handed down the verdict in the 28-year-old case, while the sentence will be handed down on Wednesday. Father Thomas Kottoor was also found guilty of breaking and entering.
Sister Abhaya (21) was found dead in the well of the convent of San Pío X on March 27, 1992. The criminal branch and the initial teams of the CBI that investigated the case had concluded it as suicide or murder with culprits who did not they could be located. However, the courts refused to close the case and ordered a further investigation.
In 2008, CBI DSP Nandakumaran Nair arrested Father Thomas Kottoor, Sister Sephy and Father José Puthrukayil in the case. Father Poothrikkayil was later removed by the higher court for lack of evidence.
According to the CBI charge sheet, Sister Abhaya woke up around 4 a.m. on the fateful day, went down the stairs of the shelter, and went to the kitchen area to get water from the refrigerator, when she saw the two defendants. In a compromising position. She was later attacked and killed by the accused.
‘God’s hands were visible during the judgment’
The defendants were registered under sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 449 (breaking and entering) of the IPC in addition to section 34 of the IPC related to an act committed by several persons with common intent. The trial in the case, which began in the CBI special court in the last week of August 2019, concluded on December 10.
Human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal, who has been fighting for justice in the case, said that God’s hand was visible at all stages of the case when there were attempts to bury justice.
“I am happy that our judicial system is powerful enough to do justice through thick and thin,” he said.
Abhaya’s brother, Biju Thomas, also said that God intervened in the case.
“All thanks to God… When I received the copy of the post-mortem report, it said there was only 375 ml of water in his stomach. From that day on, we had suspicions. I also thank Jomon Puthenpurackal for the relentless fight, “he told Dubai news channels.
Abhaya’s father, Aikkarakunnel Thomas, and his mother, Leelamma, had died before the trial began.
Former CBI DSP Varghese P Thomas, who first discovered the case to be a murder, said the verdict proved once again that justice would be served. Breaking down in tears upon hearing the verdict, Thomas said that his position had been vindicated after all these years. He had left the CBI when he had 10 more years of service after his superiors insisted on a closing report saying it was a suicide case.
Shortly after the verdict was rendered, the bail of the two defendants was canceled and the police detained them. They were taken to the hospital for a medical examination, as well as for the mandatory Covid-19 screening test.
Later, Father Kottoor was taken to the Central Jail in Poojappura and Sister Sephy to the Women’s Prison and Correctional Facility in Attakulangara. They will appear in court on Wednesday for sentencing.
After the verdict, Sister Sephy refused to speak to the media, while Father Kottoor claimed he was innocent. “I am innocent. I have done nothing wrong. God is with me. I will proceed according to God’s plans,” he said.
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