Thiruvananthapuram: The three accused in the murder of 71-year-old Santhakumari in Vizhinjam, have been handed death penalty. Kovalam natives Rafeeka Beevi, her son Shafiq, and Al Ameen, who resided with them, were sentenced by the Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court Judge A M Basheer. The case revolves around the theft of gold ornaments, followed by the brutal murder of Santhakumari, whose body was then concealed in the attic of her own home.

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Santhakumari

On May 16, the court found the accused guilty of conspiracy, murder, destruction of evidence, and robbery. Santhakumari, hailing from Mullur, Vizhinjam, was killed on January 14, 2022.The accused lured their neighbour Santhakumari to their rented residence, where they robbed her of gold possessions and fatally struck her on the head. It's been reported that their intention was to flee the area with the stolen gold.

The accused attempted to conceal the crime by hiding Santhakumari's body in the attic. However, the house owner found the body later that night following which the accused were apprehended by the police. It had also come to light that the same group was involved in the murder of a 14-year-old girl in 2020, and that case is  currently undergoing trial.