One found guilty in Puthur Sheela murder case

Palakkad Additional Sessions Judge P.K. Haneefa has found second accused Kanakaraj guilty in the Puthur Sheela murder case. However, third accused Manikhadan has been acquitted as the prosecution has failed to prove the charges against him. The sentence will be pronounced on Saturday.

Kanakaraj has been found guilty under Sections 449 (housebreak), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 392 (robbery), and 397 (robbery after murder) of the Indian Penal Code.

After hearing the judgment on Friday, Kanakaraj pleaded with the judge to reduce his sentence as he was a headload worker with wife and a child.

Sheela Jayakrishnan was stabbed to death on March 23, 2010 at her house at Puthur, near here.

Sheela's mother, Karthiyayani Amma, who was seriously injured in the attack, had identified the three accused, Sampath, Kanakaraj, and Manikhandan, in an identification parade.

The police had arrested the three on March 28, 2010, but the first accused, Sampath, died in police custody on March 29, 2010.

The custodial death of Sampath is being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

There were 52 prosecution witnesses and seven witnesses of the accused.

During the trial, prosecution witness and Palakkad Town North Circle Inspector had turned hostile.

The charge sheet was filed by Deputy Superintendent of Police M.K. Pushkaran on June 22, 2010, and the trial began on December 17.