Other priests involved in murder cases

KOCHI: Priests getting involved in murder cases is not new in Kerala. The arrest of Fr Thomas Kottur, Fr Jose Puthrukkayil and Sr Sephi in connection with Sr Abhaya murder case has stirred up the memory of other sensational cases in Kerala involving the priests.

In 1966, Fr Benedict Onamkulam, a priest of Changanassery Archdiocese, was sentenced to death for the murder of a widow -Mariakutty- on the basis of “circumstantial evidence”.

However, he was acquitted by the Kerala High Court on an appeal filed against the lower court judgement, sentencing him to death.

In 1984, Fr Ravi, an Orthodox priest of Kottayam, was acquitted by a lower court after he was charged with murdering a student- Jolly.

In another case in 1986, Fr Antony Lazar was accused of murdering a nurse Marykutty in Kollam. Though he was sentenced to death by the Sessions Court, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the High Court on an appeal against the lower court order.

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