A 28-year-old woman was sentenced to double life imprisonment for killing her own children before attempting suicide following a dispute with her husband.
Sathiyaveni was married to one Sivasankar and the couple along with their two children were living in Senthamangalam. However, there were frequent quarrels between the couple. After one such fight on October 6, 2011, Sathyaveni left the house with her children and planned to go to her mother’s house in Aryapalayam at Sattur in Salem district.
Sathyaveni, who was upset, suddenly alight with her kids in Mettala village. Then she walked to a farm well owned by one Natarajan, a key witness in the case, and pushed her two children into it. Later she also jumped into the well. However, Natarajan and a few others tried to rescue all the three, but they were able to save only the women. After this, the Ayilpatti police registered a case and conducted inquiries.
When the case came up for hearing, Principal District and Sessions Judge A Devasahayam sentenced the woman to double life term on Friday.
K. Dhanasekaran, Public Prosecutor, said, “Sathiyaveni was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment and slapped a fine of `5,000 fine for murdering her son S Sapthagiri, and a similar punishment was handed over for killing another child S Girimurugan. She will have to undergo three months imprisonment on default of the fine amount.”
Moreover, the Judge sentenced the woman with six months jail term for attempting to commit suicide and ordered her to serve the terms concurrently. Following the judgment, the police took the convict to the women’s jail in Vellore.
Her husband Sivasankaran, a lorry driver, who was present in the court broke down soon after hearing the verdict.
Sivasankaran added that he had spent around Rs 1 lakh for to get her released on bail and had come to the court hoping that she would be acquitted.