Death sentence set aside

Kerala high court today set aside the death sentence awarded by Sessions Court, Palakkad, to Kanakaraj, second accused in the murder of a housewife in Palakkad district, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The order in this regard was delivered by a division bench comprising justice K T Sankaran and justice M L Jospeh Francis on an appeal filed by the Kanakaraj.
The first accused, Sampath, had died in police custody shortly after his arrest.
The bench said there was no premeditated plan to commit murder.
The court said the guilt of Kanakaraj was proved beyond doubt and entire facts leading to the death of Sheela and Sampath have not been brought to light.

Considering all these aspects, the court set aside the death sentence and awarded life imprisonment to the accused.
Sheela, wife of a businessman, was brutally murdered on March 23, 2010 at her residence in Puthur in Palakkad. Her mother was seriously injured by the accused.
The High Court also upheld the acquittal of another accused Manikantan despite the state government challenging it.