Shocking but deserved

The shrewdly planned ghastly murder of Sharon Raj was received with shock and disbelief all across the state. The well-planned murder left many dazed while questions were raised. The public started taking a serious interest in the case after an investigation revealed it was Sharon’s girlfriend, Greeshma who was behind the killing.

After a long trial that went over three years, Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court Judge A.M. Basheer on Monday pronounced the verdict that covered 586 pages and Greeshma was sentenced to be hanged. Nirmalakumaran Nair, the third accused in the case and Greeshma's uncle, was sentenced to three years in prison for the crime of destroying evidence. Greeshma's mother was also included in the accused list, but the court acquitted her.

As the death penalty can be carried out only with the permission of the High Court, the case documents are sent to the High Court. The accused also has the right to appeal. On October 14, 2022, Sharon was admitted to the hospital after drinking a poison-containing drink prepared by Greeshma. After eleven days in the hospital, he died on October 25. Shockingly, this was not Greeshma’s first attempt. Even before, she had persuaded Sharon to drink juices mixed with poison but her beau rejected it citing a sour taste.

The police had received strong evidence that Greeshma tried to eliminate Sharon after her family brought up another marriage proposal with a soldier. Through the collection of scientific evidence leaving no loopholes, Police did meticulous work to ship-shape this murder case, which had every chance of slipping away in favour of the accused.

Notwithstanding the heinous crime, women are generally not given the death penalty by courts, but this case proved to be different. The court accepted the four dozen circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution against Greeshma. The court specifically pointed out that the age and education of the offender are not a bar to reduce the severity of the punishment.

According to the court: If we take note of the murder, we can see the demonic mind possessed by the accused. Even when battling death for eleven days, not even once did Sharon blame Greeshma for the crime. We have heard about Betrayal, grudges and murders. But this case was unheard of.

Many have raised contrarian opinions over the verdict and there are talks about the verdict having a short lifespan until it reaches the doorstep of the Supreme Court. The crime was a grave one, shocking and unprecedented. The court verdict was shocking but at the same time, a deserved one too.