Kerala couple gets life sentence for murder of 71-year-old woman in Mannarkkad

Mannarkkad (Palakkad): A special court here has sentenced Basheer (45) and Faseela (36) to life imprisonment for the murder of 71-year-old Nabeesa from Karimpuzha, Palakkad.

The bench of Justice Jomon John also imposed a fine of Rs. 2 lakh on the convicted couple.

The incident happened on June 23, 2016, when Nabeesa (71), visiting relatives in Mannarkkad, was lured to a rented house by her grandson Basheer and his wife Faseela. It was there that they allegedly poisoned her food and forcibly poured the poison into her mouth, leading to her death. The following morning, the couple disposed of her body by dumping it by the roadside. 

An initial investigation by the Nattukkal police revealed a suicide note and Nabeesa’s phone near the body, which led them to open a case of unnatural death. The note, however, raised suspicion as Nabeesa was known to be illiterate. 

Further investigation by the police, prompted by information from relatives and locals, uncovered that Basheer and Faseela had to leave Nabeesa's house due to a dispute over missing gold ornaments. According to the charge sheet, the couple held a grudge against Nabeesa for revealing the theft to their relatives.

Faseela has previously been convicted in a case of attempting to murder her father-in-law Mohammed. She was sentenced to five years in prison and a fine of Rs. 50,000 in that case. She was later released on bail while serving her sentence.