MANJERI: The Manjeri Additional District Sessions Court has awarded the death penalty to a man who brutally murdered his wife at a slaughterhouse. The verdict was pronounced by Judge A.V. Teles, who sentenced 44-year-old Najbuddin alias Babu, a native of Chudalaparambu in Parappanangadi, to capital punishment for the crime committed on July 23, 2017.

Babu, allegedly driven by doubts about his wife’s fidelity, lured 30-year-old Raheena—his first wife—to a meat shop he owned near Anjappura Beach Road, where he slit her throat. The gruesome murder occurred in the early hours, between 2:00 AM and 4:45 AM. Workers arriving to transport meat from the slaughterhouse were the first to discover the body.

Following the murder, Babu stole 36.43 grams of gold jewellery from Raheena and went into hiding, travelling across Coimbatore, Palakkad, and Thrissur. He was apprehended at Tanur Railway Station on July 25, 2017.

The prosecution was led by Additional Public Prosecutor Adv. K.P. Shaju, while the investigation was conducted by then Tanur Circle Inspector C. Alavi.

The court found Babu guilty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced him to death along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Under Section 404, pertaining to the theft of jewellery from the deceased, he was sentenced to another five years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 25,000. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of imprisonment. If paid, the fines are to be handed over to Raheena’s mother, Subaida. Furthermore, the court directed the District Legal Services Authority to ensure appropriate compensation is provided to Raheena’s son and mother from the government’s Victim Compensation Fund.