Mangaluru, Dec 10, 2014: A person named Satish of Bantwal who was recently convicted by the court in the Bantwal Sowmya murder case, has been sentenced to jail term till his last breath. The Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court which is also the Special Court for cases of sexual crimes, pronounced the quantum of punishment to Satish on December 9, Monday.
Pushpanjali Devi, Judge who pronounced the quantum of punishment also slapped a penalty of Rs 30,000 on the convict under different sections of the IPC. The amount will be paid to the family of the victim. Meanwhile, the Court even instructed the Legal Services Authority to ensure disbursal of maximum possible compensation to the family of the deceased.
Earlier, Shivaprasad Alva K, Public Prosecutor pleaded for life imprisonment till death to Satish on the grounds that he may create problems for the family members of the Sowmya if he was released after 14 years in case he was awarded life sentence.
The murder had taken place on February 24,2013. Sowmya who hailed from a poor family and had completed a D.Ed course amid difficulties had got a job in Manipal just a fortnight before her death. On that fateful day, Sowmya who used to stay at her aunt’s house in Udupi was on way to Baltila to her parental home to collect some certificates when Satish allegedly accosted her and attempted to outrage her modesty and later killed her.
Based on revelations made by a few locals who had spotted Satish lurking in the area, the police arrested Satish from the Baltila bus stop. He later confessed to the crime and the chain of Sowmya which he had stolen was recovered from his house.
During investigation it also came to light that Satish had tried to molest Sowmya once earlier too but a complaint was then not lodged as he had promised not to repeat such acts.