Sister Abhaya murder case | Father Thomas Kottoor, Sister Sephy sentenced to life imprisonment
Updated:
Updated:
December 23, 2020 23:26 IST
Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy were also imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh each by the CBI special court
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In this combo picture, Fr. Thomas M. Kottoor and Sister Sephy leave the Vanchiyur court premises in Thiruvananthapuram on December 22, 2020.
| Photo Credit: T. Nandakumar
Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy were also imposed a fine of ₹5 lakh each by the CBI special court
A special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) here on Wednesday sentenced Fr. Thomas M. Kottoor and Sister Sephy to life imprisonment for the murder of 19-year-old novice Sister Abhaya, who was found dead in a well at Pious X convent of the Knanaya Catholic order in Kottayam in March 1992.
Sr Abhaya (21) was found dead in the well at St Pius X convent on March 27, 1992. The crime branch and initital CBI teams that probed the case had concluded it as either suicide or murder with culprits who couldn’t be traced. However, the courts refused to close the case and ordered further inquiry.
In 2008, CBI DSP Nandakumaran Nair arrested Fr Thomas Kottoor, Sr Sephy and Fr Jose Puthrukayil in the case. Fr Poothrikkayil was later discharged by the high court for lack of evidence.
According to the CBI chargesheet, Sr Abhaya woke up around 4am on the fateful day and came down the stairs of the hostel and proceeded to the kitchen area to fetch water from the refrigerator, when she saw the two accused in a compromising position. She was subsequently attacked and murdered by the accused.
After 28 Years, CBI Court convicts Priest & Nun in Sister Abhaya Case
By SM Bilal| Updated: 23rd December 2020 12:49 pm IST
Thiruvananthapuram: In the 28 year old Sister Abhaya murder case, a court in Kerala pronounced a guilty verdict on Monday.
A Special CBI Court in Thiruvananthapuram found Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy, a priest and nun of the Catholic Church respectively, guilty of murder in the case.
The details of the reasoning and the findings of the court will be known after the full copy of the judgment is released.
Special CBI Judge K Sanal Kumar, who handed down the guilty verdict, will pronounce the sentence for the convicts tomorrow. Kottoor has been found guilty for offences under Sections 302(murder), 201(destruction of evidence) and 449(criminal trespass) of the Indian Penal Code .Sephy was held guilty for offences under Sections 302 and 201 IPC.
Nineteen-year-old Sister Abhaya was found dead in a well at the St. Pius X convent at Kottayam on March 27, 1992.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two accused in the sensational Sister Abhaya murder case were found guilty by a special CBI court on Tuesday. The sentence will be pronounced on Wednesday.
Besides the charges of murder and disappearance of evidence, the two were also accused of house trespassing. While Father Thomas Kottoor was found guilty, Sister Sephy was found not guilty.
With this, the bail of the two accused will now be cancelled and both the accused will be kept under judicial custody. The judgement was announced by CBI judge K Sanal Kumar.
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Explained: From suicide to murder verdict, a 28 year journey in Abhaya case
Catholic nun Abhaya was found dead in a well on March 27, 1992. Now, 28 years later, a special CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram has found two accused guilty of murdering her. Written by Shaju Philip , Edited by Explained Desk | Thiruvnanthapuram | Updated: January 1, 2021 12:46:26 pm
Sister Abhaya was found dead on March 27, 1992.
A special CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram has found
to life in prison. Kottoor, 69, and Sephy, 55, were charged under Section 302 (murder) and Section 201 (destruction of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The verdict came 28 years after the body of the nun was found in a well of her convent hostel in Kottayam. During the course of the hearing, the HC had allowed the discharge petition of Father Puthrikkayl, the third accused in the case.