Couple gets four death sentences for killing family members

After killing his parents and brother with the help of his wife, by dousing them in petrol while in sleep and setting them ablaze, the accused Goverdhanan had claimed they had died after the AC in the room exploded.

However, circumstantial evidence, medical report and the chemical analysis report went against the accused, who were pronounced guilty and awarded death penalty on three counts, Special Public Prosecutor N Vijayaraj said.

P Velmurugan, District Judge, Sessions Court for exclusive trial of Bomb Blast Cases at Poonamallee pronounced the verdict. Goverdhanan had been demanding money from his parents for long to start a new business venture and was agitated that his parents did not heed to it.

In May 2019, the victims were found dead inside their locked house and Goverdhanan blamed an AC explosion for their death and even preferred a police complaint in this regard. A DSP-rank official probed the matter and later it emerged the husband-wife duo had poured petrol on Goverdhanan’s parents and younger brother and set them on fire, Vijayaraj said, adding, there were also cut injuries on one of the victims.

Factors like the AC machine not exploding but only melting, the accused escaping unhurt and other forensic analysis nailed the couple, he said, adding, they broke down upon hearing the sentencing on Tuesday. The life imprisonments imposed are to run concurrently and it is also ordered to set off the period already undergone, if any, the court said.