Life Sentence Of Anu Shanthi Suspended
The Supreme Court suspended the life sentence of Anu Shanthi, convicted in the 2014 Attingal double murder case. The Court granted her bail pending the appeal against her conviction.
Supreme Court’s Decision
A bench of Justice Abhay Okay and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan granted bail, stating, “The appellant is entitled to suspension of sentence and bail pending final disposal of the appeal.” The Kerala High Court had earlier confirmed her life sentence.
Case Background
On April 16, 2014, Nino Mathew murdered Anu Shanthi’s mother-in-law and their three-year-old daughter at their home in Attingal, Kerala.
The prosecution argued that Anu Shanthi and her co-conspirator, Nino Mathew, planned the murders to eliminate obstacles to their relationship
Kerala High Court’s Ruling
The High Court upheld the conviction of both accused under Section 302 of the IPC. Anu Shanthi received a life sentence for her involvement in the murders, while Mathew, who executed the killings, initially faced the death penalty. The court later commuted his death penalty to life imprisonment without remission for 25 years, citing mitigating factors.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s suspension of Anu Shanthi’s sentence provides her temporary relief as the appeal continues. The case highlights complex legal and emotional challenges in criminal justice proceedings.
