Kozhikode: A family court in Kozhikode has granted a divorce petition filed by Ponnamattom Shaju Zacharias against Jolly, the prime accused in the sensational Koodathayi serial murder case.

In his petition, Shaju argued that his wife, who is on trial and currently in remand for the multiple murders, still poses a threat and is capable of further violence. He requested the court to grant the divorce on these grounds. The plea, filed through Advocate G Manoharlal, was allowed by the court. Though the petition was originally submitted in 2021, it was finally disposed of on Monday after the respondent failed to appear in court on multiple occasions despite repeated hearings.

According to the prosecution, Jolly murdered six members of the same family in Koodathayi between 2002 and 2016. The victims include retired Education Department official Tom Thomas (66), his wife and retired teacher Annamma Thomas (60), Jolly’s first husband Roy Thomas (40), Annamma’s brother M M Mathew Manjadiyil (68), Tom Thomas’ nephew Shaju Zacharias’ wife Sily (44) and their two-year-old daughter Alphine.