The Kerala High Court today confirmed the death sentence of a 40-year-old man, who murdered his wife and four young children in a gruesome manner in 2008.
A division bench, comprising Justices T R Ramachandran Nair and A V Ramakrsihna Pillai, upheld the finding of the Palakaad sessions court that the case belonged to the category of the "rarest of rare cases".
The gruesome incident took place at Pattambi between July 8 and July 23, 2008. The accused Reji Kumar (40) first killed his wife Lissy (35), dumped her body in the septic tank and then killed his children-- Amalu (12), Amal (10), Amaliya (9) and Amaniya (3) on different days.
The bench accepted the prosecution version that this was a pre-planned, diabolic, brutal murder which shocked the conscience of society.
In the DNA test, it was found that one of the girl children was sexually abused before her death.
The court relied on circumstancial evidence as there was no direct evidence. It was alleged that the accused had illicit relationship.
The bench accepted the prosecution contention of Additional DGP Tom Jose Padinjarekkara that the accused, who eliminated his family, including a nursing child, cannot be reformed and was a 'menace' to the society.
