Chikkamagaluru court sentences man to death for murdering couple

The Chikkamagaluru Principal District and Sessions Court, on Wednesday, convicted a person for the murder of a couple and sentenced him to death along with a penalty of ₹20,000.

Govindappa, 55, of Satkoli-Kusubur in N.R. Pura taluk of Chikkamagaluru district, was accused of murdering Dharmaiah, 53, and his wife Bharathi, 33, also residents of the village, on August 30, 2019. The couple is survived by a 12-year-old son.

Dharmaiah’s older brother S.R. Hoovanna filed a complaint with the N.R. Pura police and blamed Govindappa for the murder. The police registered the case on charges of house trespass and murder. Police Inspector J. Manju had filed the charge sheet with the court. Veena P., the public prosecutor, represented the prosecution.

The Principal District and Sessions Court heard the case and sentenced him to death, along with a penalty of ₹20,000. Of the penalty, ₹15,000 is to be paid to the son of the deceased. Further, the court ordered the District Legal Services Authority to be informed for awarding suitable compensation for the son under the victim compensation scheme.

The judge stated, “The crime committed by the accused is so grave and brutal that it shocks the conscience of society. Therefore, this court is of the considered view that the ends of justice would be met with only by imposing the capital punishment.”

The sentence of death shall be subject to the confirmation by the High Court of Karnataka, the judge added.