Vijayalakshmi murder case; 'last seen theory' and mobile records become turning point

ALAPPUZHA: The last seen theory on which the police rely on along with the mobile phone call details has become a turning point in proving the murder of Vijayalakshmi.

The Karunagappally police registered a case at 8.57 pm on the 13th on the complaint of Vijayalakshmi's sister. According to the statement, Vijayalakshmi had been missing from her rented house since 11.30 am on the 9th. The police, who investigated Vijayalakshmi's phone number, came to know that the phone was switched off at the Ernakulam transport bus stand on the 10th. The phone call details were then collected.

If a phone is lost, the owner may call that number from some other phone but it was found that it did not happen. The police collected the details of those who made the phone calls on the day Vijayalakshmi went missing and met many people, including Sudheesh, a friend of Vijayalakshmi. Many, including Jayachandran, who had gone to sea, were put under observation. The police realised that Jayachandran had called Vijayalakshmi on the evening of the 6th and the two were at the same tower location from Ochira to Ambalappuzha at 7.45 pm.

The police, who identified Jayachandran's activities till he was arrested, became suspicious of him. The CCTV footage obtained during the journey from Ochira to Ambalappuzha was also crucial. After getting off the bus at Ambalappuzha, Jayachandran reached home with Vijayalakshmi. After the murder, Jayachandran left for Ernakulam with Vijayalakshmi's phone to mislead the police by switching off his phone and keeping it at home.

The phone, which was abandoned on a bus to Kannur, was handed over to the aid post at the depot by the conductor. From there, the police took into custody the phone kept at the central station. Jayachandran was unable to stand up to the interrogation along with call details and had to confess to the crime.

The case was investigated by Kollam City Police Commissioner Chaitra Teresa John, ACP Anjali Bhavana, SHO V Biju, SIs M Shameer, Kannan, Shajimon, Venu, Joy, SCPOs Rajeev, Hashim, Anitha and Bindu.

Last Seen Theory

• The provision in the Evidence Act that if one of the last two people seen together is killed, the burden of proof falls on second person
• Last seen theory is crucial in addition to circumstantial evidence in a case where there are no eyewitnesses