THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram CBI court delivered the verdict in Sister Abhaya murder case in just five minutes after a 28-year long fight for justice. The court who convicted Father Kottoor and Sister Sephy will pronounce the quantum of sentence tomorrow.

The state was eagerly awaiting the verdict since Monday morning. As the verdict comes at the end of the longest investigation, legal battles and interventions the state has ever seen, Kerala was awaiting the verdict with prayers that Sister Abhaya should get justice.

The court started proceedings at 11 am and in minutes pronounced the verdict. Father Kottoor and Sister Sephy were found guilty. The offence of destroying evidence was also proved.

Sister Sephy was seen praying after hearing the verdict. However, Father Kottoor kept on saying that he was innocent. I obey god’s plan, he added. God is my court. Why I should be afraid when god is with me, he said.

Father Kottoor was shifted to Poojappura jail and Sister Sephy at the Attakulangara jail.

Abhaya was found dead in the well of Pious Tenth Convent in Kottayam on March 27 in 1992. Abhaya was murdered after she was a witness to intimate contacts between Kottoor, another Father, Jose Poothrikkayil, and Sephy.