Bindu murder case: Accused to be hanged to death

KOCHI: The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced Rasheed of Wayanad, accused in the Pachalam murder case, to death by hanging.The court also awarded him double life imprisonment, eight years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 11 lakh in four other offences.The court held that the imprisonment shall run concurrently.The court, however, held that the death sentence should not be executed unless it is confirmed by the Kerala High Court.Judge B Kemalpasha awarded death sentence by considering the case as the ‘rarest of the rare.’ “The accused had committed murder in an extremely brutal and diabolical manner for money.While committing robbery, the accused put to death a helpless young woman for committing robbery of just above five sovereigns of gold ornaments.So this is not an ordinary crime committed in a fit of anger or spur of the moment provocation.Hence, he deserves harsh punishment,” the court observed.The court said that it will be a disgrace to the Judiciary if the accused is given a lesser punishment.“It will be a mockery of justice and the common man will not have faith in the court,” it added.“The accused is a perfect example of a hardened criminal and to spare such a criminal from gallows will bring the judicial system under shadow,” the court observed.However, counsel for Rasheed submitted that it may not be proper to award death sentence on the basis of circumstantial evidence.