New Delhi: In the case of the murder of a law student in Perumbavoor, the Supreme Court has stayed the death sentence of the accused, Ameerul Islam. This stay was issued in response to a petition filed by Ameerul Islam challenging the Kerala High Court’s verdict.

The order was issued by a bench led by Justice B.R. Gavai. The Court also directed that a mental health and character certificate of the accused be presented. A special board, led by the Superintendent of Thrissur Medical College, has been appointed to conduct a psychological evaluation of the accused and submit a medical report.

The Court has also instructed that reports from the jails where Ameerul Islam was held be provided. The stay will remain in effect until a final decision is made in the case. The Supreme Court also directed that the stay order be communicated to the jail superintendent through the State Government’s Advocate.

The Supreme Court will hear further arguments only after receiving the State Government's response and other relevant documents related to the case. The Court has directed both the High Court and the trial court to provide all documents related to the case.

Ameerul Islam's petition to the Supreme Court challenges the High Court’s decision which upheld the death sentence, arguing that the trial court’s findings were based on presumptions. The petition, filed by Advocate Sriram Parakkat, claims that the High Court did not consider the accused’s socio-economic background or his clean track record, and that the prosecution failed to establish the intent of the crime.

The petition also argues that the legal basis for the judgement was flawed and that the High Court did not address the prosecution's failure to prove the intent behind the crime.

The incident

On April 28, 2016, the young woman named Jisha was found dead in a state of having been sexually assaulted at her home in Perumbavoor. The Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court sentenced the accused, Amirul Islam, to death, highlighting that the crime committed by him was both heinous and extremely rare.