STALKER SENTENCED FOR LIFE FOR KILLING GIRL’S PARENTS

Rajahmundry, Jan. 31 : The accused in a double murder case, which caused sensation all over the State some 16 months ago, was held guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Family Fast Track Court here on Monday.

            It may be mentioned here that the accused M. Rajesh had fatally stabbed parents of Anusha and grievously injured her on September 17, 2009 when she rejected his advances. It was stated that Rajesh had fatally stabbed N. Srinu, an autorickshaw driver, and his wife N. Satyavathi as they tried to save their 17-year-old daughter, who was being attacked by Rajesh.

            According to the prosecution, the 20-year-old accused, an employee of a courier company, had gatecrashed into the girl’s house on the fateful night, whipped out a knife and slashed Anusha’s throat. Hearing screams of their daugher, the deceased rushed to protect her. But the enraged youth repeatedly stabbed the couple killing them on spot. However, the neighbours caught the youth, beat him and handed over to police.

The girl, a Class XII student, who was critically injured, in her statement recorded by a magistrate demanded that the accused be hanged in public.

However, the court, which examined 27 witnesses for prosecution during 16 months trial, delivered its judgment on Monday awarding life sentence to the accused.

            The Public Prosecutor pleaded before the court that the accused deserved no mercy for killing a couple in cold blood and injuring the hapless girl and should be awarded exemplary punishment so that others would not dare to repeat such kind of crimes. But the court has given life imprisonment.

            Before appearing before the Court, the accused told mediapersons that he had not murdered any one and exuded confidence that justice would be done to him when he was innocent. But, Anusha felt that Rajesh should be awarded exemplary punishment because he made her and her sister orphans by killing their parents. 

            Rajesh, who claimed that he was in love with Anusha, was arrested in May 2009 for harassing her. He was released on bail but continued to stalk her. After the incident, women and student organisations held demonstrations across the State, demanding stringent punishment to the youth.