Mangaluru: Man sentenced to four years in prison for killing sister with a hammer

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Aug 27, 2026: The Mangaluru 2nd Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced a man to four years in prison for killing his younger sister by striking her on the head with a hammer following a minor dispute.

The convict has been identified as Samson Francis Coutinho, a resident of Kambalapadavu under the jurisdiction of Konaje Police Station.

The court sentenced him to four years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹10,000 under Section 304(II) of the IPC. He was also sentenced to one year in prison and fined ₹1,000 under Section 201 of the IPC for causing the disappearance of evidence.

The incident occurred around noon on October 8, 2019, at the accused’s residence in Kambalapadavu. Samson had asked his sister, Fiona Swidel Coutinho, to give him her mobile phone to use. An argument broke out between the siblings over the issue.

During the altercation, Samson, allegedly enraged, struck Fiona on the head with a hammer, causing her death. He subsequently hid her body in bushes behind the house in an attempt to destroy evidence.

Following the incident, Fiona’s father, Francis Coutinho, filed a complaint reporting that his daughter was missing. Based on the complaint, police initially registered a case of kidnapping under Section 363 of the IPC.

The investigation was taken up by then Mangaluru South Sub-Division ACP T. Kodanda Ram, who uncovered the murder. After completing the investigation, police filed a chargesheet before the court on January 10, 2020, under Sections 302 and 201 of the IPC.

After hearing the case in detail, the Mangaluru 2nd Additional District and Sessions Court pronounced the sentence on August 24, 2026. Public Prosecutor Jyothi Pramod Nayak argued the case on behalf of the prosecution.