By Matters India Reporter
Thiruvananthapuram: A court in Kerala on December 23 gave life term to a Catholic priest and nun found guilty of murdering Sister Abhaya 28 years ago.
A day earlier, the special court of the Central Bureau of Investigation convicted Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy, a member of St Joseph Congregation, for killing the 19-year-old nun and dumping her body in the well of Pius X Convent in Kottayam, Kerala.
Judge K Sanil Kumar found the two guilty of murder as well as destruction of evidences.
The body of Sister Abhaya (nee Beena Thomas Areekkara Aikkaraparambil) was found in the well on March 27, 1992. The local police tried to dismiss the death as a case of suicide alleging the nun’s family members had suicidal tendencies.
However, protests from local people who formed an action council for justice, forced the authorities to hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, a federal agency.
The judge also found Father Kottoor guilty of forcible entry into the convent.
While the prosecution argued for maximum punishment to the two, the defense pleaded for milder punishment in view of the age and health problems of the guilty.
Father Kottoor, 71, is reportedly suffering from a third-stage cancer while Sephy, 57, has kidney problems. She also told the court through her lawyer that she is the only one to look after her aged and sickly parents. When the court heard the two parties, Sister Sephy was seen praying with closed eyes.
The prosecution answered in negative when the court asked if the murder was planned in advance.
Among those present in the court was Jomon Puthenpurackal, who launched the action council, four days after Sister Abhaya’s death.