Viswarajan, 22, accused in the raping and killing of 34-year-old R. Smitha, a native of Koippallykarayma near Kayamkulam, was awarded the death penalty by the Mavelikkara additional district and sessions court-II on Thursday.
The verdict was pronounced by judge A. Badharudheen after a nearly two-month-long trial. The trial started on April 9. Hearing the verdict, Vishwarajan who had a hint of a smile on his face, bowed his head without any signs of remorse.
Additional public prosecutor S. Ramanan Pillai who was appointed by the government for the victim said that apart from the death penalty for murder, Vishwarajan had been awarded six months rigorous imprisonment for illegal detention and a Rs1 lakh fine as well.
“If the fine is not remitted, he would have to bear an additional six months of rigorous imprisonment. The court has observed the case as being the rarest of rare. The verdict will help to spread the message about the consequences of an assault against women,” he said.
The incident relating to the case happened on October 24, 2011, at 7 p.m while Smitha was on her way home from work. She was working with a private shop in Kayamkulam as a saleswoman.
Vishwarajan who was in an inebriated condition, hid near Smitha’s home and raped her. He then abandoned an unconscious Smitha in a marshy area. The incident took place just 200 m away from Smitha’s home. Viswarajan, a native of Oachira was living with his relatives whose home was near Smitha’s.
Following the incident, the investigation team led by the then Kayamkulam circle inspector A.N. Shanihan submitted a report before the court.
As many as 38 witnesses appeared before the court during the course of the trial. Shanihan told dc there was no hurdle in the way of the investigation. The mobile phone which was found at the spot of the incident was the turning point in the investigation, he recalled.
“The main significance of this case was that the majority of witnesses who appea-red before the court were women,” he pointed out.
A police officer who accompanied Vishwarajan from Poojappura central prison said that he had tried to break out of jail by jumping out of the prison building. This resulted in Vishwaraj-an fracturing his leg. Vishwarajan was brought to court from the Poojappura central prison at 10 am and returned to Poojappura at 2.30pm in a police van. The court pronounced the verdict by 11.15 am.
Security was tightened in the court premises. Advoca-te G. Madhu who appeared for Vishwarajan said to media persons that the verdict would be challenged in a higher court.