Sister Abhaya’s murder: Priest, nun sentenced to life imprisonment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI special court in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday sentenced priest Fr Thomas Kottoor and nun Sr Sephy to life imprisonment for the murder of Sister Abhaya.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh for murder, house trespass - Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 for destruction of evidence on the convicts.

The court on Tuesday held that the mysterious death of Sr Abhaya at St Pius convent in Kottayam in 1992 was a murder and found Fr Thomas Kottoor and Sr Sephy guilty of murder and destruction of evidence.

Special CBI judge K Sanil Kumar gave the verdict in the 28-year-old case. Fr Thomas Kottoor was found guilty of house trespass also.

Sr Abhaya (21) was found dead in the well at St Pius X convent on March 27, 1992. The crime branch and initital CBI teams that probed the case had concluded it as either suicide or murder with culprits who couldn’t be traced. However, the courts refused to close the case and ordered further inquiry.
In 2008, CBI DSP Nandakumaran Nair arrested Fr Thomas Kottoor, Sr Sephy and Fr Jose Puthrukayil in the case. Fr Poothrikkayil was later discharged by the high court for lack of evidence.
According to the CBI chargesheet, Sr Abhaya woke up around 4am on the fateful day and came down the stairs of the hostel and proceeded to the kitchen area to fetch water from the refrigerator, when she saw the two accused in a compromising position. She was subsequently attacked and murdered by the accused.
‘God’s hands were visible during trial’
The accused were booked under sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 449 (house trespass) of the IPC besides section 34 of IPC pertaining to an act committed by several persons with common intention. The trial in the case, which started in the CBI special court in the last week of August 2019, concluded on December 10.
Human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal, who has been fighting for justice in the case, said the hand of God was visible in all stages of the case when there were attempts to bury justice.
“I am happy that our judicial system is powerful enough to deliver justice against all odds,” he said.
Abhaya's brother Biju Thomas also said there was God's intervention in the case.
“All thanks to God... When I received the copy of the post-mortem report, it said there was only 375ml water in her stomach. From that day, we had suspicions. I also thank Jomon Puthenpurackal for the relentless fight," he told news channels from Dubai.
Abhaya's father Aikkarakunnel Thomas and mother Leelamma had died before the trial began.
Former CBI DSP Varghese P Thomas, who first found that the case is a murder, said the verdict once again proved that justice would be delivered. Breaking into tears as he heard the verdict, Thomas said his stand had been vindicated after all these years. He had quit the CBI when he had 10 more years of service after his higher-ups insisted on a closure report saying it was a case of suicide.
Shortly after the verdict was pronounced, the bail of the two accused was cancelled and police took them into custody. They were taken to the hospital for medical examination as well as the mandatory Covid-19 screening test.
Fr Kottoor was later taken to the Poojappura Central Jail and Sr Sephy to the Women’s Prison and Correctional Home at Attakulangara. They will be produced before the court on Wednesday for pronouncement of sentence.
After the verdict, Sr Sephy refused to talk to the media while Fr Kottoor claimed he was innocent. "I am innocent. I have done no wrong. God is with me. I will proceed as per God's plans," he said.