THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reports said Johnson Ousep, accused in Athira murder case in Kadinamkulam, had threatened and extorted money from her. Johnson was Athira’s Instagram friend.

Johnson was in a relationship with Athira for a year. He also had financial dealings with her. Athira had given Johnson nearly Rs one lakh. Three days before committing the crime, he had borrowed Rs 2,500 from her. Police said that he blackmailed her by showing her pictures.

The reason for the murder was that Athira refused to abide his demand to leave her husband and go with him. Johnson, who reached her house around 9 am, slashed her neck after making her unconscious. The police had received footage of the accused leaving the house with the knife. He escaped on Athira's scooter. The police found that after parking the scooter at Chirayinkeezhu railway station, he boarded a train towards Thiruvananthapuram.