Court announced its verdict in the murder of Ambalamukku Vineetha on April 24; prosecuting seeking death penalty

Thiruvananthapuram’s additional district and conference court VII will sentence Kanyakumari native Rajendran, a criminal who killed Vineetha in February 2022 at a brutal sunlight in the plant nursery in Ambalamukku.

Judge Prasun Mohan found Rajendran guilty of murder, robbery, trespass and destruction of evidence nearly two weeks ago.

The court heard a final debate on prosecution and defense on Monday.

Special Prosecutor M. Salahudeen described Rajendran as a stubborn criminal who demanded death sentence on the defendant. Prosecutors said his actions led to four murders in Tamil Nadu and Kerala was “inhumane and shockingly cruel”.

When the court asked about any sense of regret, Rajendran, 40, replied that he did not feel it, claiming that he did nothing wrong. He also demanded leniency on the grounds that he had the responsibility to take care of his 70-year-old mother. The defense defended the age of the criminal.

The court earlier sought detailed reports about the offender after prosecutors argued that the case could be classified as “the rarest rare.”

These reports, including regional collectors, concluded that criminals pose an ongoing threat to society and show minimal potential for reform. Regional collector Anu Kumari said in his essay that the “serial killer” will resort to killing innocent people if released.

“Considering the extremely brutal, grotesque, diabolic murder involving multiple victims shocks the collective conscience of society. The State cannot grant that the accused would not indulge in similar offence in future, if he (is) set at large. He being a proven serial killer, is a menace to the society and his extermination is the only course of action to save innocent people from tragic end (sic),” the report reads.

Thomson Jose (Thiruvananthapuram City) Thomson Jose describes the defendant as a serial killer with a dangerous mindset, enjoying the crime, especially when the victim fights for his life after a fatal neck injury.

The principal of the Palayamkottai Central Prison in Tirunelveli also filed a report to the court. The defendant allegedly murdered a customs official, his wife and daughter in an attempt to steal 95 grams of gold.

The principal said in his report that the inmate’s behavior was “uncertainable” because prison officials who served during Rakinderan’s imprisonment were no longer posted in the prison.