A father-son duo and two others of the same family have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a court here for murdering a young man nearly two years ago, an incident which had sent shockwaves in the district.
While seven members of the family including three women were charged for offences including murder, four men were found guilty and three women acquitted by the court.
65-year-old K Ellappan, his son E Sethu alias Prakash (22), the former's brother K Ramdoss and brother-in-law M Kuppan were convicted for murder.
They were sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering D Kesavan, a 27-year old man in Vairapuram Colony at Vellimedupettai on July 7, 2014 which sent shock waves in Villupuram District.
Kesavan was in love with E Nagammal, daughter of Ellappan and he had spent money for the girl's family which included expenditure towards construction of a house.
However, when he learnt that Ellappan's family were trying to get Nagammal married off to another person, he went to her house and protested the move along with his brother D Elumalai.
An altercation led to a fight and it ended in Kesavan and his brother getting beaten up with wooden logs and iron pole by Ellappan, Sethu, Ramdoss and Kuppan. While Kesavan died of grievous injuries, Elumalai survived.
In his judgement on February 26, First Additional District and Sessions Judge, Tindivanam, R Baranidharan convicted four men including Ellappan for murder (IPC 302) read with section IPC 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed).
He acquitted the three women and slapped a fine of Rs.2000 on the four men.
He said the charges against the four men under other sections including rioting and wrongful restraint were not proved.
"The recovery of weapons used for murder, the wooden logs and iron pole, the corroboration by eye-witnesses were among things that helped prove the murder charges against the accused," Additional Public Prosecutor, CP Shanmugam told PTI.
He said all the four men were taken into custody by police after the pronouncement of judgement and lodged in Cuddalore Central Prison the same day.
