Court to pronounce quantum of sentence in Nanthencode mass murder case on Thursday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sentence of Cadell Jenson Raja, who hacked to death and set ablaze four including his parents and sister, will be pronounced on Thursday. Prof Raja Thankam, wife Dr Jean Padma, daughter Caroline and Jean Padma's relative Lalitha, visually challenged, were killed in Bales Compound near Cliff House in Nanthancode. The case was considered by the sixth additional sessions court.

Cadell was fascinated by astral projection committed the crime. He murdered the four on April 9 in 2017. Cadell became fascinated by astral projection while studying abroad. Before the murder, the accused had fed his parents, sister and relative food laced with pesticides. When they vomited and fainted, he hacked them to death and set them on fire at home. The axe to commit the murder was purchased online.

After the incident, Cadell, who had gone to Chennai, was arrested when he returned to Thampanoor railway station after his picture appeared in the newspapers. The court had rejected his plea to acquit him of being mentally ill. The case was taken up for trial after the medical board certified that the accused was mentally healthy. The medical board had certified that the accused was mentally healthy to face trial.

Even after the demonic massacre, Cadell came to collect evidence collection with a smile. The police charge sheet said Cadell is mentally ill and that the massacre was part of astral projection, a witchcraft practice.