Sister Abhaya murder case: High court tells priest, nun to face trial

Kochi: The Kerala high court ordered prime accused in Abhaya murder case Father Thomas M Kottur and third accused Sister Sephy to face trial. Earlier, the two accused had moved the court seeking their acquittal.

The high court upheld the action of the special CBI court acquitting Father Jose Puthrikkayil, the second accused in the case.  The court also decided not to implicate former deputy superintendent KT Michael of the crime branch who was accused of destroying evidence.

Father Thomas M Kottur, Father Jose Puthrikkayil and Sister Sephy had earlier approached the CBI special court in Thiruvananthapuram seeking their acquittal. However, the court had dismissed the demands of Father Thomas M Kottur and Sister Sephy but acquitted Father Puthrikkayil, following which the other two accused appealed to the high court.

Sister Abhaya was found dead in the well at St Pius Convent in Kottayam on March 27, 1992. She was an inmate of the convent. The case was initially investigated by local police and the state crime branch, which concluded that Abhaya had committed suicide.

The investigation of the case was taken over by the CBI on March 29, 1993, following a legal battle by human rights activist Jomon Puthenpurackal. The central probe agency in 2008 arrested Father Kottoor, Father Poothrikkayil and Sister Sephy on charges of murder.

According to the prosecution, both Father Kottoor and Father Poothrikkayil were involved in a relationship with Sister Sephy, who lived in the convent.

As per reports, on the night of March 27, 1992, Abhaya allegedly saw Father Kottoor and Sister Sephy in a compromising position, following which the three accused hacked her with an axe and threw her into the convent well. The accused were arrested in 2008 and released on bail by the Kerala high court a year later.

(With PTI inputs)

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