Three sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of seven persons of family

The Sixth Additional District Court in Madurai on Tuesday sentenced three persons to life imprisonment for the murder of seven persons of a family in 2015 after a marital dispute in Kumarapuram, a hamlet near Sedapatti in Madurai district.

Fourth Additional District Judge M. Udhayavelavan (Sixth Additional District Court in-charge) sentenced to life imprisonment Pandeeswari, Murugeshwari and Rajapandi for the murder of the family of Kannan, Pandeeswari’s estranged husband. The court also imposed a total fine of ₹45,000 each.

They trio were convicted for the offences under Section 302 (murder), Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) and Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

Kannan and six others, including his parents and three teenagers, were burnt to death after Pandeeswari with the assist of Murugeshwari and Rajapandi set fire to their dwelling in the wee hours.

Kannan who was living in Chennai had returned home and was staying with his parents, sister and her family in Kumarapuram. Pandeeswari came to the house where Kannan was staying, locked it from outside and set it on fire.

There was a marital dispute between Pandeeswari and Kannan. After about three years of marriage, due to irreconcilable differences, they were living separately. The village elders had also attempted to bring peace between the couple. The Sedapatti police had registered a case.