THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The quantum of sentence in the sensational Abhaya murder case will be pronounced in a short time. The accused have been brought to the court. The verdict will be delivered by Thiruvananthapuram CBI court judge K Sanal Kumar.

The accused in the case--Fr Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy, were found guilty of murder and destruction of evidence. Thomas Kottoor is also charged with trespassing on a nunnery. The second accused, Fr. Thomas Puthrikkayil had earlier been released due to lack of evidence. The CBI will file an appeal against it.

Sr Sephy burst into tears hearing the verdict. Kottoor was quiet. In a case where there was lack of direct evidence, the court accepted the statement and circumstantial evidence of Adakka Raju, who came to the convent on the morning of the incident to steal. Eight of the 49 prosecution witnesses turned hostile. Many people retracted their statements.

Sister Sephy arrived in the court yesterday wearing church attire with other nuns. The judge announced the verdict in five minutes finding the two guilty. After testing for the virus, Sister Sephy was shifted to Attakkulangara Women's Jail and Kottoor to Poojappura Central Jail. Public prosecutor M Navas and counsel for the accused were present. CBI SP Nandakumar Nair was not present as he was in Mumbai.