Ex-convict likes to meet murdered nurse’s family

Kochi: Melvin Padua, who has come out of jail after  spending almost 19 years there  on the charge of murdering a nurse inside a train toilet in December 1994, wants to  meet the victim’s family and console them. Padua told DC that he wishes to meet Kunjumon,  brother of the victim Celinamma, at his house at Manimala in Kottayam but he is unsure what kind of reception he will get there.

“I don’t know if Kunjumon believes that I killed his sister. Anyway, I am the murderer of Celinamma in front of this society as the court had found me guilty.  Whether or not I had a role in the murder, it is natural for him to believe that I killed her as the court punished me. Hence, I don’t know how he would react if I go to their house,” Padua said.

However, Kunjumon and his family had earlier said that they had nothing against Melvin Padua as he has completed his sentence in jail. When the jail authorities asked the victim’s family if they had any objection to releasing Padua, Kunjumon had agreed  for the release. Hence, in all likelihood, Padua and his family would meet Kunjumon’s family in the coming weeks.

Before that, Padua will go to his church on Tuesday (December 24), the anniversary of  Celinamma’s death.

His wife Beatrice said she always prayed  for Celinamma’s soul and had been going to church on her death anniversaries. “We would go to our church in Tripunithura this year. But by next time, I hope I can go to the church where Celinamma is sleeping and pray for her with her family,” Padua added.