[Uthra Murder by Snake-bite] Family of deceased files appeal before Kerala High Court seeking death penalty for convicted husband

The family of Uthra, a 25-year-old differently-abled woman who was killed by snake-bite has reportedly approached the Kerala High Court challenging the trial court's decision to not award the death penalty to Uthra's husband, Sooraj, who was recently convicted and sentenced to life-imprisonment for Uthra's murder..On October 13, the Additional Sessions Court, Kollam, presided by Judge Manoj M had pronounced the sentence in this unique case, where the husband was accused of murder by throwing a starving cobra on to his sleeping wife to induce death by snakebite..The trial court sentenced Sooraj to double life imprisonment for murder and attempted murder, 10 years imprisonment for causing hurt by poison and 7 years for causing disappearance of evidence..The media attention and public outcry naturally led to demands for the death penalty, a prayer which was also raised by the prosecution led by Special Public Prosecutor G Mohanraj. .However, the Court declined to grant the same, taking into consideration the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court and the mitigating circumstances such as the young age of the accused and his lack of criminal antecedents.Uthra Murder: Why was accused husband Sooraj not given death penalty?.Speaking to prominent Malayalam news channels after the sentencing hearing, Uthra's mother, who was visibly distraught, had said that the family is dissatisfied with the sentencing and that they will be approaching the High Court to appeal the same. The New Indian Express on Monday reported that the appeal has been moved. .Out of a handful of other cases involving murder by induced snakebite that have been reported in India, this is the first one that has led to conviction and that too in a case that was built primarily on circumstantial evidence..As per the prosecution, in March 2020, a then 27-year-old Sooraj had first attempted to murder his wife by setting a venomous starving viper on a sleeping Uthra but she had survived that attack.However, Sooraj was successful in his second attempt in May 2020, when he used a deadlier Indian cobra. This time, Uthra, who had been recovering from the first attempt on her life, succumbed to the lethal bite of the cobra.The investigation led to the arrest of a snake-handler named Suresh who turned approver and admitted to supplying both snakes to Sooraj.During interrogation, Sooraj confessed to the crime stating that his motive was financial gain..The prosecution and investigating team utilised the testimonies of several expert witnesses and conducted a unique dummy trial to simulate induced snake bites to build their case..Uthra Murder: Dummy trial, expert evidence that led to conviction of husband Sooraj on circumstantial evidence.Earlier this month, the Additional Sessions Court convicted Sooraj for offences punishable under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to commit murder), 328 (causing hurt by poison) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Indian Penal Code.