The Kerala High Court on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of Kanakaraj, the second accused in the sensational Puthur Sheela murder case, to life imprisonment.
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Justice K T Sankaran and Justice M L Joseph Francis set aside the order of Palakkad Additional Sessions Court awarding death sentence to Kanakaraj and observed that even though the guilt of the accused was proved beyond doubt, the entire facts leading to the death of Sheela and the first accused Sampath have not been brought to light.
The Bench observed that the normal sentence for murder was life imprisonment and the death sentence.
The Sessions Court should point out specific reasons for awarding death sentence.
However, the sentence imposed on the second accused Kanakaraj in another offence by the Sessions Court was confirmed.
The Bench also dismissed the appeal filed by the state government against the acquittal of third accused Manikandan.