The special court for the trial of cases relating to atrocities and sexual violence against women and children is likely to deliver the verdict on Friday in a case in which a 10-year-old boy was stabbed to death by his neighbour.
The trial in the case began on January 30 this year and, having heard the arguments of both sides, judge P.J. Vincent had on October 10 posted the case for delivering judgment on Friday.
Ritsy John, a Class 4 student of St. Albert’s School in the city and a resident of Parapally House, Pullepady, was stabbed to death on the morning of April 26, 2016.
He was returning home after buying eggs when he allegedly came under the attack of Aji Devassia, his neighbour, at around 7 a.m.
The accused was booked under IPC Section 302 and has since been languishing in Ernakulam sub jail.
As per the case registered by the Central police, the accused attacked the boy without any provocation.
Annie Jose, who witnessed the incident, had then said that at first it appeared that the accused was embracing the boy and that she realised that it was an assault only when the boy fell down and the accused was seen continuously stabbing the boy.
The boy who was rushed to a hospital nearby was declared brought dead.
17 stab wounds
An autopsy report later said the boy suffered a total of 27 injuries, including 17 stab wounds in his neck and face.
Reports then emerged that the accused was mentally unstable and the police stated that he was admitted to a mental hospital in Thrissur in the past.
The defence counsel also raised the argument about the sanity of the accused during the trial, which the prosecution flatly opposed. The prosecution claimed that the defence could not take refuge in legal insanity and that he was fit enough to understand the gravity of the act and its consequences besides drawing attention to his alleged history of drugs and alcohol abuse.
