THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police have nabbed the accused who murdered Kadinamkulam native Athira. The accused, Chellanam native Johnson Ouseph, was taken into custody from Chingavanam in Kottayam. Johnson, who consumed a poisonous substance, has been admitted to the Kottayam Medical College hospital. The Kadinamkulam police have left for Kottayam.

Venjarammoodu native Athira (30), the wife of priest Rajeev of the Padikkavilakam Bharanikkadu Bhagavathy Temple in Kadinamkulam, was found murdered at the rented house near the temple last Tuesday. Johnson, a physiotherapist, was an Instagram friend of Athira.

Johnson and Athira had been in a relationship for the past few months. According to the police, Johnson decided to murder Athira after she refused his request to start living with him. Johnson, a divorced man, had repeatedly threatened her asking her to come with him.

On Tuesday morning, Rajeev went to the temple at 5:30 AM and returned at 11:30 AM to find Athira dead in her bed. Her body had deep cuts on the neck and was soaked in blood.

On the day of the incident, Johnson arrived at Athira’s house at around 9 am and fatally stabbed her in the neck. The police have obtained footage of him leaving with the knife. He escaped on Athira's scooter. After leaving the scooter at Chirayinkeezhu Railway Station, he boarded a train heading towards Thiruvananthapuram, according to the police.