Death for techie, lifer for lover in Attingal twin murder

Thiruvananthapuram: Techie Nino Mathew has been sentenced to death and his colleague paramour Anu Shanthi to life in detention in the sensational Attingal twin murder case in which the latter’s three-year-old daughter and mother-in-law were killed and husband seriously injured.

Considering the case as the 'rarest of rare,' Thiruvananthapuram principal district judge V. Shircy on Monday termed the incident as a diabolical and heinous crime committed for the satisfaction of lust. The court also termed Anu Shanthi as 'a shame for motherhood' for conniving at the murder of her daughter.

But the court gave consideration to her for being a woman. The two were found guilty by the court on Friday. Apart from capital punishment, which would be subject to the High Court's concurrence, the court also awarded life-term and another 23 years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs. 63.5 lakh for various offences, including an attempt to murder under IPC 307, trespass under IPC 449, tampering with evidence under IPC 201, theft under IPC 380, act done with common intention under IPC 34 and for recording sexual acts under section 67 (A) of Information Technology Act.

Shanti was sentenced to a life term for murder as well as conspiracy and another 23 years and fine of Rs 61 lakh for various offences. The sentence needs to be undergone concurrently only. The court ordered a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Anu’s husband Lijeesh and '30 lakh to his father, Thakappan Chettiar.

The brutal murders took place on April 16, 2014, at Lijeesh’s house near Alamcode in Attingal. Mathew and Shanti were working together in a Technopark firm, and they were having an extramarital relationship. It was with the intention of living together that they decided to finish off the latter’s family members.

He reached Mr Lijeesh’s house by around 12 noon. Mr Lijeesh had gone out and his mother, Omana, and daughter, Swathika, were only present there. He murdered Omana and Swathika by beating using a baseball stick and a machete. In order to mislead the probe by framing it as a murder for robbery, he also took the gold ornaments worn by the two and hid inside the house till Mr Lijeesh reached the spot.

As Mr Lijeesh stood shell shocked on seeing his mother and daughter dead, he attacked him. As Mr Lijeesh ran out of the house screaming, he fled the spot.
Police got the first lead in the case from Mr Lijeesh’s statement that it was his wife colleague who committed the crime. Mr Lijeesh was aware of the illicit relationship of his wife as he had come across some intimate messages on her mobile. He even warned her against going for the job. Both the convicts hailed from well to do families.  

Special prosecutor Vineeth Kumar said that a decision on filing an appeal for capital punishment to Anu Shanthi would be taken after holding discussions with the director general of prosecution. Home minister Ramesh Chennithala said that the government would consider rewards to the investigation officers.