Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Sandra case: first accused awarded capital punishment

Staff Reporter

Co-accused sentenced to life term

CONVICTED: Trevor Joseph Fernandez, left, and Nigel Joseph Fernandez at the court on Tuesday.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The District and Sessions Judge D. Pappachan on Tuesday awarded capital punishment and fine of Rs.5,000 to Nigel Joseph Fernandez, 23, an accused arrested in connection with the murder of Sandra Maria Fernandez, 17, a resident of Punnavoor, Malayankeezhu, whose body was found inside the well in the compound of her house on August, 2004.

Nigel's twin brother, Trevor Joseph Fernandez, 23, a co-accused in the case, has been sentenced to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs.5,000. Both the accused have also been directed by the Court to undergo two-years rigorous imprisonment under section 427 (mischief causing damage) and another 10 years rigorous imprisonment under section 436 (mischief by fire).

The prosecution case was that the twin brothers hacked Sandra to death using a hatchet and shoved her body into the well following an altercation with the accused at around 9 p.m. The accused, who were entrusted the guardianship of Sandra, and her brother, Christopher Gary, by their father Joseph Christopher Fernandez, were staying in the house along with the sibilings, at the time of occurrence of the crime.

The altercation began when Sandra remonstrated the brothers for using abusive words in Malayalam in the presence of their housemaid Lalitha. Following this Nigel threatened to kill her with a kitchen knife. Sandra, who sought refuge near the well fearing the attackers, was chased and killed.

S.K. Ashok Kumar, public prosecutor, who appeared on behalf of the prosecution, said: "The statements given by Sandra's brother and her housemaid have been the clinching evidence in the case."

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