ALUVA: A long-running family feud finally culminated in murder in Edayappuram, near Aluva, on Thursday night. Thomas T J, 46, an employee of the High Court, was arrested for killing his elder brother Paulson T J. The 48-year-old was shot multiple times with an air gun following an altercation over parking.
The duo were living with their father, 80-year-old Joseph, a retired railway employee, in his house on Sub Canal Road. Paulson sustained bullet injuries to the neck, chest, forehead and back from close range. Thomas fired seven rounds from the gun owned by Joseph, said police officers, who later recovered the weapon from the house.
Local residents were in the dark about the incident until Friday morning, when Thomas, who had informed officers of the crime, was taken into custody.
The siblings squabbled on Thursday over Thomas parking his motorcycle in front of the house, said neighbours.
Brothers used to quarrel frequently: Neighbours
After Paulson damaged the vehicle, Thomas lodged a police complaint. This provoked Paulson, who had a history of quarrelling with his brother and father. He procured petrol and threatened to set Thomas and Joseph ablaze. A verbal duel ensued between the brothers which culminated in Thomas opening fire around 11.30pm, said neighbours. Joseph, who suffers from age-related health issues, was sleeping in his room, they added.
“We came to know about the incident from Martin, a neighbour, who assisted the police team in moving the injured Paulson to hospital in an ambulance. Officers arrived at the scene on being alerted by Thomas. Paulson, an electrician, had been unemployed for a while and depended on Joseph and Thomas for his expenses. However, he was planning to eliminate the duo,” said P V Ratheesh, a neighbour. Paulson used to say he is clinically insane and would be untouched by the law even if he murdered his father and brother, he said.
“Since the two brothers quarrelled frequently, the neighbours never intervened. But we never thought it would lead to murder,” said Suma, Ratheesh’s wife.
Joseph and Thomas, a law graduate, were not keen on moving Paulson, who is unmarried, to a mental institution despite being fed up with his attitude. According to neighbours, Thomas feared for his father’s life. Joseph’s wife died six years ago while his married daughter lives in Aluva. Thomas had also lost his wife years ago. “The family did not maintain any contact with neighbours. As a result, we would not involve in their affairs,” said Adarsh, another neighbour. Police found Paulson lying on the floor in a pool of blood. According to officers, Thomas entered Paulson’s bedroom before firing the shots. A detailed investigation led by rural SP Vivek Kumar is under way.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Thomas was undergoing treatment for depression. Paulson’s body was handed over to relatives after autopsy on Friday.