THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The CBI special court here, on Wednesday, awarded life sentence to Father Thomas Kottoor, and Sister Sephy, on charges of murder of Sister Abhaya, 21, in 1992 and subsequently destroying evidence.
On Tuesday, CBI judge K Sanilkumar had found Father Thomas Kottoor, 71, of Kottoor House, Kidangoor, Kottayam, guilty of charges of murder, destruction of evidence and criminal house trespass, and Sister Sephy, 57, of St Joseph Generalate, S H Mount, Kottayam, guilty of murder and destruction of evidence.
Before delivering the sentence, the court heard the prosecution and the two convicts for one last time. The prosecution pleaded for capital punishment for the two convicts citing that it is perhaps the first time in history that a priest and nun were being convicted for the murder of another nun. The prosecutor also cited that the victim was a hapless novice, the accused were her superiors and they carried out systematic and comprehensive destruction of evidence.