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Kerala priest, nun convicted in 1992 Sister Abhaya murder case
Father Thomas Kottoor, Sister Sefi convicted in 1992 Sister Abhaya murder case
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram pronounced a catholic priest and a nun guilty of the murder of Sister Abhaya on Tuesday nearly three decades after she was found dead inside a convent. The verdict against Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sefi was pronounced by CBI special court judge J Sanal Kumar, who said that Sister Abhaya’s death was a case of ‘clear murder’.
Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sefi who are being held guilty for the murder broke down in the court after the verdict. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on Wednesday.
Sister Abhaya’s brother Biju Thomas expressed relief and happiness after the verdict against Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sefi. Activist Jomon Puthanpurakkal, who single-handedly fought for ensuring justice to Sister Abhaya and her family, also said he was happy with his efforts. “My 28 years work turned fruitful,” Puthanpurakkal said.
The main witness in the case, Raju, who was a small-time thief, also expressed his happiness upon hearing the verdict. Police official Verghese P Thomas, who investigated the case, said he was happy with the verdict. Legal experts have also called the verdict historic.
The body of Sister Abhaya, a Class 12 student, was found in the well of the Pious X Convent in Kottayam on March 27, 1992. The local police after concluding the initial investigation said that the nun had died by suicide, triggering protests. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case in 1993 and more than a decade later in its report named and arrested two Catholic priests, Father Thomas Kottoor and Father Jose Poothrukayil, and a nun, Sister Sefi. They were charged with the nun’s murder, destruction of evidence, and criminal conspiracy.
CBI in its charge-sheet had mentioned that it was possible that Sister Abhaya had witnessed “some sexual activity” involving Father Kottoor and Father Poothrukayil. The central agency said that Sister Abhaya might have been killed because the priests feared she would disclose what she had seen.
