IDUKKI: The court sentenced death penalty to a man who killed a seven-year-old with a hammer and later sexually assaulted the sister of the victim. The incident happened in 2021 in Anachal, Aamakandam in Idukki. Vandiperiyar native Sunil Kumar (50) was sentenced to death by the court. Idukki fast-track special court Judge Vargheese pronounced the verdict. In the chargesheet, four major charges including POCSO were invoked against the guilty.

For the sexual assault on the girl, the court sentenced the accused to 92 years of rigorous imprisonment and an additional fine. The accused will need to serve the 92-year life imprisonment first.

On October 3, 2021, seven-year-old Abdul Fatah was found murdered. Abdul's parents were living separately and they had certain family strife to deal with. Sunilkumar is the husband of the children's maternal aunt. Recently there happened a tiff between the accused and his wife. Abdul's mother played the mediator and the couple decided to separate. Sunil Kumar carried an ill feeling that it was his sister-in-law's intrusion that destroyed his marriage.

On October 3rd at 3 am morning, the accused reached his sister-in-law's home and barged inside through the kitchen door. He first hit the mother on the head with a hammer. Later he banged the hammer on seven-year-old Abdul Fatah, who died instantly. Not quelling down the rage, Sunil Kumar dragged Abdul's 15-year-old sister and forced her to watch the mother and son lying in a pool of blood. Later he sexually assaulted the 15-year-old daughter and threatened her to never speak a word about the incident.