Prime accused Greeshma gets capital punishment in Sharon murder case

Thiruvananthapuram:  In the brutal Sharon Raj murder case, first accused Greeshma has been sentenced to death sentence by the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court here on Monday. She was also slapped with a fine of Rs 2 lakh. The second accused and Greeshma's maternal unlce, Nirmalakumaran Nair, was sentenced to three years of imprisonment. The third accused, Sindhu, Greeshma's mother, had already been acquitted earlier for lack of evidence. Both Sindhu and Nirmalakumaran were accused of assisting Greeshma in committing the murder.

Court's observations

Before announcing the sentence, the court commended the police for conducting a thorough investigation with no lapses. In the 586-page judgment, the court observed that Greeshma not only killed Sharon but also the very emotion of love. The court drew Sharon's family closer while reading the judgment. The court noted that Greeshma's age could not be factored into the consideration of her punishment. The court also observed that the argument regarding Greeshma's lack of prior criminal history could not be taken into account.

Holding the murder as "brutal", the court maintained that the case was rarest of rare and sentenced the prime accused to capital punishment. 

The court observed that Sharon was a slave to love and, even on his deathbed, continued to love Greeshma. It was not the issue whether Sharon had complaints; the physical relationship was evident. Despite their ongoing affection, Greeshma tried to kill Sharon.

Sharon was aware that something was wrong with the juice. Unable to drink even a drop of water, Sharon lay in bed for 11 days. What Greeshma showed was betrayal of trust. Even on his deathbed, Sharon referred to Greeshma as "Vava", the court remarked while reading the judgment.

Greeshma invited Sharon by promising a sexual relationship. The murder was committed without any provocation. Greeshma's claim that Sharon had hit her was false. Despite committing the crime, Greeshma’s skill in holding onto her stance until the very last moment did not succeed, the court noted.

Final arguments

The final arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, which lasted three days, had concluded earlier on January 18. The court found Greeshma and her uncle guilty of the crime. The prosecution had argued for the maximum penalty, which was the death sentence for Greeshma. In their final arguments before sentencing, the prosecution had described the case as rare and extraordinary.

The chargesheet stated that Greeshma had mixed poison with a decoction and administered it to her boyfriend Sharon Raj, leading to his death. The incident occurred in October 2022. On October 14, Sharon was given the poisoned decoction by Greeshma. After receiving the drink, Sharon was also given juice to wash it down. He later vomited in his room and continued to vomit while riding back with his friend. After being treated at Parassala General Hospital, Sharon was discharged, but the following day he developed sores in his mouth and was re-admitted to the hospital. Despite treatment, Sharon’s kidneys, liver, and lungs failed, and he passed away while under care.

Sharon, who was from the J P Bhavan near Parassala, was a final-year student of BSc Radiology at Nayyur Christian College of Allied Health. He met Greeshma during a bus journey to college, and the two became romantically involved in October 2021, according to the charge sheet. Greeshma’s marriage to a man in the Army was arranged for March 4, 2022. A prediction by a fortune-teller had suggested that Greeshma's first husband would die.

After the marriage was fixed, Greeshma and Sharon secretly exchanged rings at her home and later tied the knot at Vettukadu Church. However, after the new marriage proposal, Greeshma attempted to end the relationship with Sharon, but he was unwilling to let go. This led to Greeshma planning and executing his murder.

Maximum leniency pleaded

When Greeshma was brought to the court on Saturday, the judge had asked Greeshma if she has anything to say. In response, Greeshma provided a written statement. The judge then called her into the chambers and asked her directly about her statement.

Greeshma requested that the court consider her age and grant the maximum possible leniency in sentencing. "I still have to study. I am only 24 years old and have no prior criminal history," she told the court, submitting her educational certificates.

However, the prosecution had argued that the Sharon murder case was exceptional and rare. They demanded the maximum sentence for the accused. "It was not just a young person, but a person motivated by the feeling of love who committed this murder. The accused lured Sharon to her death under the guise of love. After the first attempt at murder failed, the accused tried again. The crime was committed with meticulous planning," the prosecution stated.

The prosecution further detailed the 11 days of pain that Sharon endured, according to the testimony of doctors. They argued that the murder was premeditated and not an impulsive act. "Sharon had dreams, and those dreams were shattered by Greeshma. The accused did not show any remorse at any point, and therefore, she does not deserve any mercy," the prosecution concluded, demanding the death penalty.

Meanwhile, defence lawyer Shasthamangalam Ajith Kumar had questioned how the death penalty could be imposed, pointing out that there was only circumstantial evidence in the case.

During the trial, Greeshma had shown suicidal tendencies. She had attempted to escape from her relationship with Sharon multiple times, but Sharon was unwilling to end the relationship. The defence argued that Sharon blackmailed Greeshma by showing her private photographs.