KOTHAMANGALAM: Athena, the woman arrested for poisoning her boyfriend in Kochi, took inspiration from Greeshma, the Thiruvananthapuram native serving a death penalty for poisoning her boyfriend to death. It was through the media that Athena learned about Paraquat, the poison used by Greeshma to kill her boyfriend.

After learning of the deadly power possessed by Paraquat, Athena chose the poison to kill her boyfriend, Ansil. She very well knew that there would be no escape for Ansil if the poison entered his body. Sorting out a plan, Athena summoned Ansil to her home and mixed the herbicide in a soft drink. There is no antidote for paraquat once it enters the body. Therefore, in many foreign countries, it can only be used by licensed people. But in India, anyone can purchase it.

The police indicate that existing financial disputes and a new boyfriend were behind Athena's decision to eliminate Ansil. According to her relatives, Athena had flings with several of her male friends. Once in college, she even registered a complaint with the police over suffering injuries in a blade attack from her then-boyfriend.

Athena has been living alone at her house ever since her mother’s death. Despite having relatives close by, Athena never had good relationships with them. Ansil and Athena met through a mutual friend a year ago. They soon became close, and police say that the duo even made serious financial transactions.