Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, May 24: The district and sessions court here on Wednesday May 24 awarded life imprisonment to an accused in a murder case that took place in Heroor in 2010.

The accused, Yogish Kumar Poojary was convicted of robbing and murdering 62-year-old Sunanda Shetty in her courtyard at Heroor on the night of December 20, 2010.

On the night of the murder, Yogish had jumped over the compound wall of Sunanda's house while she was cleaning the courtyard, strangled her to death and robbed her of gold ornaments. Her lifeless body was found the next morning by a newspaper vendor.

Sunanda’s husband had passed away and she was living alone in the house. Her two sons were settled in Bengaluru at the time of the murder and daughter was living in a house located a few kilometres away from Sunanda’s house.

File photo of the crime spot

Gold ornaments including four bangles, a pair of earrings, mangalasutra, ear loops, and a chain with a pendent, altogether worth Rs 1.80 lac that Sunanda was wearing were taken away by the accused.

The then circle inspector G Krishnamurthy took up the investigation, and arrested Yogish a few days later. A charge sheet was filed in the court.

The district and sessions court which heard the case found Yogish guilty of the crime, and sentenced him to life imprisonment under IPC section 302 (murder) and to seven years of rigorous imprisonment under section 397 (robbery and dacoity). A fine of Rs 25,000 was also imposed.

Before being arrested, Yogish, now aged 34, worked in a general store in Heroor. He had taken loans from different banks in order to set up his store. After he suffered losses, he was unable to pay back the loans and was issued notice by the court. Burdened by endless financial problems, he plotted to kill his neighbour Sunanda, whom he had often seen going about wearing several pieces of gold ornaments. He also noted that she stayed alone at home, and seeing his opportunity, committed the heinous act.