A special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday found the two accused in Sister Abhaya’s murder case guilty and their quantum of punishment will be announced on Wednesday, bringing a dramatic end to the 28-year-old case.

The court held that Fr Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy of the Catholic Church were guilty of murder under Sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 201 (tampering of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code. It also found Father Kottoor guilty of offence under Section 449 of the IPC (criminal trespass). The court will pronounce the quantum of sentence tomorrow. The accused, who were on bail, were taken into judicial custody after the mandatory COVID-19 testing.

Father Kottoor was shifted to the Poojapura Central jail and Sister Sephy, to the Attakulangara women's prison here. The order came in connection with the controversial death of 21-year-old Abhaya, whose body was found in the well of St Pius convent on March 27, 1992.

According to the prosecution, Kottoor and Poothrikkayil were allegedly having an illicit relationship with Sephy, also an inmate of the convent. On the night of March 27, 1992, Abhaya allegedly saw Kottoor and Sephy in a compromising position, following which the three accused hacked her with an axe and threw her into the well, it had said in its charge sheet.

Abhaya's parents Thomas and Leelamma died a few years ago waiting in vain for justice for their daughter. Her brother said he was happy with the verdict. During the course of the trial, which began in August 26 last year, many prosecution witnesses had turned hostile.

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