Kerala court sentences 61-year-old to death in Nenmara double murder case

NEW DELHI: A Kerala court Monday sentenced a 61-year-old man to death in the sensational 2025 Nenmara double murder case after finding him guilty of killing a mother and son, according to PTI.The sentence was awarded to Chenthamara, who was convicted of murdering his neighbour Sudhakaran, 56, and Sudhakaran's 74-year-old mother Lakshmi at Pothundi near Nenmara on January 27, 2025.The quantum of punishment was decided after the sentencing hearing concluded last Tuesday before Judge Kenneth George, who heard detailed submissions from both the prosecution and the defence before reserving the verdict.The prosecution urged the court to impose the death penalty, arguing that the crime fell within the "rarest of rare" category. It told the court that Chenthamara posed a continuing threat to society and cited his remarks after conviction to argue that he had shown no remorse.The prosecution referred to his statement in court, where he said he was “not Mahatma Gandhi” and would retaliate if attacked, claiming the remarks reflected his dangerous mindset.The defence opposed the death sentence, contending that the prosecution's case rested on circumstantial evidence rather than eyewitness testimony. It also argued that Chenthamara's “not Mahatma Gandhi” remark was made in the context of self-defence and was not intended as a threat to kill anyone.Chenthamara had earlier been convicted in the 2019 murder of Sajitha, who was Sudhakaran's wife. While out on bail in that case, he allegedly hacked Sudhakaran and Lakshmi to death.He is currently facing charges in three murder cases involving the same family. According to the prosecution, Chenthamara believed Sudhakaran's family was responsible for the breakdown of his own family, which led him to commit the killings.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.