THOOTHUKUDI: A 38-year-old man of Paraikuttai near Maniyachi in the district was convicted and sentenced to life term in the murder case of a 13-year-old girl from Killakulam near Seidhunganallur, by the mahila court here on Thursday.
According to the prosecution, a class VIII girl aged 13 years was found murdered on December 20, 2012, just four days after the infamous Delhi gang rape incident, in a farmland near the railway line at Thathankulam.
Initially a case was registered by the Seidhunganallur Police under section 302 of IPC and Subbiah of Paraikuttai near Maniyachi was arrested in this connection. A few days later the case was altered into rape and murder and section 376 was added.
The proceedings of the case began in July, 2014 and after four months of trial, the judgment was pronounced on Thursday.
During the trail 20 witnesses were interrogated and advocate Mahendran, from free legal aid cell, was the defence lawyer.
Mahila court Judge (in-charge) M Pauldurai while delivering the verdict said that since the involvement of Subbiah in the murder has been proved beyond doubt he stands convicted. The judge awarded life sentence and slapped a fine of `1,000 as fine on him under section 302. Subbiah was also ordered to undergo a jail term of five years and pay a fine of `1,000 for attempting to rape a minor.
The only relief to Subbiah was that he was acquitted of the rape charges filed by the police.
Later, Subbiah was taken to the Palayamkottai central prison.
Public prosecutor Chandrasekar told the media that Subbiah must serve the jail terms concurrently.