Accused in T P murder case produced in court, ‘do you have anything to say for averting death penalty’, asks HC 

KOCHI: The accused in the RMP leader T P Chandrasekharan murder case were produced in the court. They were produced for a hearing on whether to increase the sentence of the accused. Out of the 14 accused in the case, 12 were produced in the court today.

The accused were brought to the trial court and the court made them aware of their crimes. Jyothi Babu was produced online due to health issues.

The court asked the accused whether there were reasons for averting death penalty or its equivalent. The accused requested the court not to award them death penalty, they are innocent, they were beaten up by the police and their families are dependent on them and so the sentence should be commuted.

The court has finished questioning six of the 11 accused. Also interacted with Jyothi Babu online. The court will take further action after hearing the other accused. It is heard that the quantum of sentence will not be pronounced in the case today. T P Chandrasekaran's wife K K Rema MLA is in the court to hear the verdict.

TP was killed on May 4, 2012 at Onchiyam near Vadakara. After hurling a bomb, the gang hacked him to death. The case is that the accused took revenge on him for leaving the CPM and forming the party RMP.

The trial court sentenced M C Anoop, Kirmani Manoj, Kodi Suni, T K Rajeesh, Muhammad Shafi, Annan Sijith, K Shinoj, K C Ramachandran, Trouser Manoj, P K Kunjananthan and Vaippadachi Rafeeq to life imprisonment and fine, while another accused, Lambu Pradeepan, a native of Kannur, was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment. Of the 36 accused, 24 including P Mohanan were acquitted.