First Additional District and Sessions Judge C.M. Joshi on Thursday found a 28-year-man guilty of murdering his wife and causing grievous injury to their newborn at the Primary Health Centre in Moodbidri five years ago.
Jayanta (28), a resident of Tenka Yedapadavu, hacked his wife Jayanti (24) to death at the Primary Health Centre on June 20, 2012 after she gave birth to a male child. Jayanta reportedly chased Jayanti in the health centre and assaulted her with a machete. He was also accused of throwing the newborn to a corner of the health centre before leaving the place.
In the charge-sheet, the then Inspector of Moodbidri Police Station A.K. Thimmiah said that Jayanta and Jayanti loved each other and Jayanti became pregnant. Having refused initially, Jayanta subsequently married Jayanti on March 1, 2012. After living with her for 15 days, Jayanta left the house for a job in Kannur and remained incommunicado. Hearing of Jayanti giving birth to a male child, Jayanta returned and murdered her.
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Prosecutor Raju Poojary Bannadi examined 38 witnesses, including the mother and younger sister of Jayanti, who were in the health centre at the time of the crime. Two nurses on duty on the day of the murder also appeared before court to narrate the chain of events leading to the murder. The judge on Thursday found Jayanta guilty under Sections 302 (murder), 326 (causing grievous injury to the child), 307 (attempting to murder the child) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The judge will hear arguments on quantum of sentence on Monday.