Couple found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder

Mangalore Today News Network

 Mangaluru, Feb 14, 2017: First Additional District and Sessions Judge in Mangaluru,  C.M. Joshi on Feb 13, Monday sentenced 51-year-old Vasappa Gowda and his wife Yamuna (43) to three years imprisonment on finding them guilty of causing the death of Monakka (38), their neighbour, following a fight over the latter’s hen entering their house.

The Bantwal Rural Police arrested Vasappa Gowda and Yamuna after Monakka died on February 19, 2014 following an assault by the couple. In the charge-sheet, the police said that the couple, residents of Manchi village, called Monakka out of her house on February 18 after seeing her hen on their premises. The couple hit Monakka with thick wooden sticks leading to her death in the Government Wenlock Hospital.

Prosecutor Raju Poojary Bannadi examined 18 people, including Monakka’s 14-year-old son, Gururaj, the prime witness. Terming this incident as culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the judge sentenced Vasappa Gowda and Yamuna to three years imprisonment and imposed fine of Rs. 4,000 each. Of the fine amount of Rs. 8,000 in all, the judge said that Rs. 5,000 should be paid as compensation to Monakka’s husband Krishnappa Gowda.