The trial in connection with the murder of a three-and-a-half year-old girl and her 60-year-old grandmother at Alamcode in Attingal in April last year began at the Principal Sessions Court here on Monday.
The proceedings began with the examination of Lijeesh, 36, father of the girl Swasthika and son of Omana before Principal Sessions Judge V. Shercy with both the accused, Nino Mathew, 42, and Anushanti, 33, wife of Lijeesh, also being present.
Lijeesh stated that his mother Omana had called on his mobile phone while he was at the Alamcode junction around 11 a.m. on April 16, 2014, informing him that a ‘friend of his’ had come home to meet him. He said that he had identified the ‘friend’ as Nino Mathew from his voice over the phone, and that on reaching his house, was attacked from behind by Nino with a machete. Lijeesh also identified Nino, the first accused in the case.
Prosecution case
The prosecution case is that Nino, before attacking Lijeesh, had bludgeoned and hacked both Swasthika and Omana to death after conspiring with Anushanti.
Earlier, Lijeesh recognised the weapon used for the murder, apart from the dresses of his mother and daughter, which were presented before the court. Losing his composure and breaking down on seeing his daughter’s bloodstained dress, Lijeesh later told the court that he was not initially sure of Anushanti’s involvement in the murder.
But a few previous episodes, including a message that he had seen on her phone around 10 days before the murder, her not visiting him in hospital while he was being treated after the attack, and then her not attending the funerals of his mother and their daughter, had confirmed his fears of her being involved.
“Any mother, however cruel she might be, would have to come to see the body of her daughter. Anushanti did not,” he said.
The court on Monday accepted the first information report and 14 material objects as evidence.
While Special Public Prosecutor V.S. Vineeth Kumar appeared on behalf of the prosecution, Shasthamangalam S. Ajithkumar and Murukkumpuzha Vijayakumar appeared on behalf of the defence. The trial will continue on Tuesday.
