Murder case suspect identified through news, woman traps Johnson tactfully

KOTTAYAM: Johnson Ouseph of Dalavapuram in Neendakara, accused in the murder case of Athira in Kadinamkulam and wife of a priest, is continuing in Kottayam Medical College Hospital. An examination conducted yesterday found traces of poison in his body.

The police arrested the accused from Kurichi in Kottayam Chingavanam yesterday. A tactful move by a family in the area helped the police to nab him. He was working as a home nurse. This family knew about the murder from channels. When the accused reached yesterday, the family pretended as if they did not know anything and informed the police. While talking to the media, she said that he had not behaved badly towards them.

Johnson Ouseph killed Athira (30) of Venjaramoodu, who was his Instagram friend. Johnson was in a relationship with Athira for the past one year. They started the friendship by sharing reels. There were some financial transactions also between the two.

The accused told police that he was close with Athira and that he killed her with a knife as he felt that she was distancing from him. However, the initial assessment of the investigation team is that a financial transaction led to the murder.

The investigation team found that Athira had given him nearly Rs one lakh. Johnson had borrowed money from her three days before the murder. There are indications that Johnson accepted money after threatening and showing private pictures of her. He also forced her to go with him, but she refused his demand. The police believe that these reasons also led to the murder.