Two men were on Thursday sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in connection with the murder of a 45-year-old woman 17 years ago.
Pronouncing the verdict, the Additional District and Sessions Court here also slapped a fine of ₹3 lakh each on Vijayan Nair, 45, of Thoppumukku and Vijayakumar, 44, of Muttathara.
Shyamala of Idakkode, Pallichal, was murdered on June 25, 2001.
The police had charged the men with murder, conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
In her verdict, Additional District and Sessions Court judge P.N. Seetha also awarded ₹2 lakh out of the penalty amount to Shyamala’s kin.
Abducted
The case was that the two men had abducted Shyamala and later abandoned her at Vanchiyoor after wounding her.
Although a police flying squad had rushed her to the hospital, Shyamala succumbed to her injuries a few hours later.
Reportedly, the two men had attacked Shyamala as they harboured a suspicion that she had spread rumours that Vijayakumar, the second accused, had an affair with another woman.
Higher compensation
On Thursday, the court also admitted a plea by Public Prosecutor M. Salahudeen that the victim’s family should be granted additional compensation under the State Victim Compensation Scheme.
