On death row, AP man to fight own case

Washington: A 29-year-old Indian software engineer, facing death penalty for a double murder, has told a US court that he would represent himself during an appeal to the State Supreme Court in Pennsylvania.

Raghunandan Yandamuri, a native of Andhra Pradesh, has been found guilty of double murder of Satyavathi Venna, 61, and her 10-month-old grand-daughter Saanvi Venna at their apartment in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania in October 2012.

A software engineer on H-1B visa, he killed Satyavathi and her grand-daughter following a failed kidnapping bid. Montgomery County Judge Steve O’Neill has allowed Raghunandan to represent himself, but only after warning about how strict and rigid the procedures of high court are.