Attingal double murder case: Mitigation report crucial in commuting death sentence of Nino Mathew

KOCHI: In the Attingal double murder case, the mitigation report was crucial in the High Court's decision to commute the death sentence of Nino Mathew, the main accused, to life imprisonment. The court also considered the mitigation report of the first accused Nino Mathew in prison and commuted the death sentence of the accused to life imprisonment. The court considered Nino Mathew's good behavior towards his fellow inmates in the prison and his lack of previous criminal background as a possibility of future repentance.

Nino is living in prison with obedience. His aged parents and children are regularly visiting him in jail. He has a good relationship with them. The mitigation report also considered that Nino has no criminal background. The report further state that he'll adjust to the society after his punishment.

The court pointed that the criminal conspiracy involving convicts Nino Mathew and Anushanthi have been proven beyond doubt. WhatsApp and other proofs have been obtained from mobile phones.

On April 16, 2014, Nino Mathew hacked three-and-a-half-year-old Swasthika and sixty-year-old Omana to death after entering their house in Attingal. The High Court rejected the appeal of the second accused Anusanti and upheld the double life sentence awarded by the trial court. A bench of Justices PB Suresh Kumar and Johnson John upheld the double life sentence. Meanwhile, the prosecution lawyer said that he will consult with the state government and decide whether to approach the Supreme Court against the death sentence being waived for the first accused.