Murder of priest’s wife in Kadinamkulam; Accused bail plea rejected, court extends remand tenure

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The court has denied bail to Johnson Ouseph of Chellanam, accused in the murder case of Athira of Kadinamkulam. The court, which ordered the accused to face trial in jail, extended his remand till September 30 and sent him back to jail. The order was passed by the Thiruvananthapuram Sixth Additional District Sessions Court.

Athira (30), wife of priest Rajeev of Bharanikad Bhagavathy temple in Kadinamkulam, was found murdered in a rented house near the temple. Johnson, a physiotherapist was Athira's Instagram friend.

Johnson was in a relationship with Athira for a year. The police said the reason for the murder was that Athira refused Johnson's request to leave with him. He had threatened her several times and pressured her to leave with him.

Rajeev, who had gone to the temple at 5:30 am on the day of the incident, found her dead when he returned at 11:30 am. She was found bleeding from the deep would on her neck. Johnson, who had reached her house at 9 am on the day of the incident, stabbed her in the neck and killed her. The police had received footage of the accused leaving with the knife. He escaped on Athira's scooter. After leaving the scooter at Chirayinkeezhu railway station, he boarded a train and while fleeing, he was taken into custody from Chingavanam in Kottayam. In the meantime, he had attempted suicide by consuming poison.