MANGALURU:A court in Mangaluru awarded life imprisonment to serial killer Cyanide Mohan for the murder of a woman from Pattemajalu in Puttur taluk, committed nine years ago. Though Mohan was convicted in this case two days ago, the quantum of punishment was announced by the Sixth Additional District and Sessions Court on Friday.
While Public Prosecutor Judith O M Crasta had argued for death sentence, Judge D T Puttarangaswamy was awarded life imprisonment. Before the conviction and awarding of quantum of punishment to Mohan, the judge examined 44 witnesses and 60 documents pertaining to the case.A school teacher turned killer, Cyanide Mohan, who is accused of murdering 20 women, is facing three death penalties in three other murder cases of women from Sullia, Bantwal and Venur that are pending confirmation from the High Court.
The judge also directed District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to pay compensation to the family members of the victim. With this, Mohan remains convicted in four cases while of the rest 16 cases, five are in the final stage of trial.
The case pertains to the murder of a woman committed on September 17, 2009. Mohan had promised the woman from Pattemajalu in Puttur taluk ajob and asked her to meet him on that day. He took her to Madikeri, where he had sex with her in a lodge on the same day.Later, on the pretext of giving her a pill to prevent pregnancy, he made her consume cyanide at a women’s toilet in KSRTC bus stand in Madikeri. After confirming that she was dead, he fled along with her gold ornaments.
Will appeal to High Court for death sentence: Lawyer
Public Prosecutor Judith O M Crasta said that as Mohan was involved in a heinous crime he should have been awarded death sentence. “As court awarded life imprisonment, I will appeal against it in High Court,” she said.
‘Will challenge the order in HC’
Cyanide Mohan, who appeared confident and composed outside the courtroom, said he would challenge Friday’s order in High Court. Mohan said a strong defence helped him avert death sentence in the case.
He added that the same legal team would fight his case in the High Court.