Kochi: The Kerala High Court on January 19 agreed to hear the appeal moved by Father Thomas Kottoor challenging the trial court verdict convicting him for the murder of Sister Abhaya.
A Division Bench of Justices K Vinod Chandran and M R Anitha admitted Father Kottoor’s appeal.
In his appeal, Father Kottoor has submitted that the trial court’s judgment is based on “unconnected story circumstances culled out from unreliable solitary witnesses,” in a reference to key witness Adakka Raju.
“The trial and conviction of the accused by the court below in all respects are vitiated by grave illegalities and irregularities,” the priest has submitted.
Kottoor, along with Sister Sephy, a nun of Pius Convent Kottayam, were convicted on December 23, 2020, by a CBI Judge, Thiruvananthapuram for the murder of 19 year-old nun Sister Abhaya. Thereafter, they were sentenced to imprisonment for life and were also directed to pay a fine of 500,000 rupees each.
Apart from the fine, Father Kottoor was also directed to pay an additional amount of 100,000 rupees for house trespass.
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/father-thomas-kottoor-priest-convicted-sister-abhaya-murder-case-kerala-high-court-life-sentence