SC commutes death sentence of rapist

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of Govindachamy, a convict in the brutal rape and murder case of 23-year-old Soumya,

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Supreme Court on Thursday commuted the death sentence of Govindachamy, a convict in the brutal rape and murder case of 23-year-old Soumya, to seven-year jail term after dropping the murder charge against him.

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“The sentence of death for commission of offence under Section 302 IPC (Punishment for murder) is set aside and instead the accused is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years,” a bench said.

The prosecution had said the incident took place when Soumya, an employee of a Kochi shopping mall, was travelling in a ladies coach on the Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train on February 1, 2011 and was attacked and pushed off from the train by Govindachamy, pointing out that Govindachamy had already been convicted in eight cases in his native state.