The Kerala High Court has commuted the death sentence of Nino Mathew, one of the convicts in the notorious Attingal twin murder case, to life imprisonment. This decision was made by a Division Bench comprising Justices PB Suresh Kumar and Johnson John, who heard the appeal petitions filed by Mathew and his co-convict, Anu Shanthi.
Background of the Case
In April 2014, Nino Mathew and Anu Shanthi were involved in the brutal murder of Shanthi’s mother-in-law, Omana, and her three-year-old daughter, Swastika. The murders were a result of Mathew and Shanthi’s extramarital affair, which Shanthi’s husband, Lijeesh, opposed. On the day of the crime, Mathew introduced himself to Omana as a friend of her son and subsequently attacked and killed both Omana and Swastika. He also attempted to murder Lijeesh but was unsuccessful.
Court’s Rationale
The High Court’s decision to commute Mathew’s death sentence was influenced by a Mitigation Investigation Report. This report highlighted Mathew’s lack of criminal history and his behavior in jail, suggesting he could reintegrate into society. The court noted that the death penalty was not warranted in this case and replaced it with a life sentence without the possibility of remission for 25 years.
Implications
While the court upheld the life sentence for Anu Shanthi, Mathew’s commuted sentence reflects a nuanced approach to capital punishment, considering the individual’s background and potential for rehabilitation. This case underscores the judiciary’s capacity to balance justice with compassion, even in instances of severe crimes.
The decision has significant implications for how courts might handle similar cases in the future, particularly in terms of reassessing death penalties based on detailed mitigation investigations.