The Principal District and Sessions Judge (PDJ) of The Nilgiris A. Nakeeran on Thursday convicted a woman and sentenced her to five years Rigorous Imprisonment (RI) for murdering her husband due to sudden provocation, in April 2011.
Public Prosecutor K. Anandakrishnan said that Mohan (52) of Gudalur was a daily wager. Mohan was allegedly a drunkard who frequently quarrelled with his wife Shanthi (43).
On April 23, 2011 night, the couple quarrelled and their neighbours pacified them. Neighbours heard a loud cry close to midnight and the next day Mohan was missing. Shanthi claimed that he went to work. But later that day the neighbours found a finger in the toilet pit close to their house.
The Gudalur police and revenue officials recovered the body from the pit and conducted inquiry, during which it was found that Shanthi and her son, who was 16 years old, killed Mohan. The two were arrested and later released on bail.
Charges were framed against them under Sections 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) of the Indian Penal Code. On hearing the arguments, the judge on Thursday sentenced her to five years RI for charges proved under 304(ii) (sudden provocation) and a year RI for charges proved under section 201. The sentences are to be served concurrently.
Shanthi was taken to the Special Prison for Women in Coimbatore. Trial of her son, who is now 20 years old, is pending.
