Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Mar 13: The third additional district and sessions court in Mangaluru, presided over by judge Sandhya S, has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for assaulting and poisoning his wife to death.
The convicted accused has been identified as Joseph Francis Renson alias Renson (53), a resident of Kumpala Chetan Nagar in Someshwara village, Ullal taluk. His wife, Shaima, was the victim.
Joseph Francis Renson was reportedly addicted to alcohol, gambling, and other vices. On May 11, 2022, when Shaima was at home, she advised her husband to mend his ways. Enraged by this, he allegedly pushed her into a room, locked the door, and physically assaulted her.
In an attempt to make it appear as if she had consumed poison, the accused allegedly poured a poisonous substance into her mouth, which he had brought under the pretense of using it as a pesticide. Their two children were present at home when the incident occurred.
In an unconscious state, Shaima was rushed by her children in an auto-rickshaw to KS Hegde Hospital in Deralakatte. Despite receiving treatment, she succumbed to her injuries the same night.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, the judge found the accused guilty and delivered the verdict on March 12. The court sentenced him under IPC Section 498(A) to three years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000, under IPC Section 302 to life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 15,000, and under IPC Section 201 to three years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000.
Children do not testify, but medical evidence prove guilt
In this case, Shaima’s two sons, who were key witnesses, did not provide supporting testimony and instead gave statements contrary to the prosecution. However, medical evidence proved crucial in securing the conviction.
Initially, the case was registered as an abetment to suicide. However, a postmortem conducted by Dr Varsha A Shetty, assistant professor in the forensic science department at KS Hegde Hospital, confirmed that Shaima had died due to a severe head injury. Based on this report, the case was converted to a murder investigation the same day.
During the court proceedings, Dr Varsha provided supporting evidence regarding the postmortem findings. However, Shaima’s sons, aged 16 and 18, testified that their mother had locked herself in the room and consumed poison, contradicting the prosecution’s claims.