A principal session court in Kottayam(Kerala) on Thursday ruled that the death of Kevin P Joseph (24), a Dalit Christian, was an ' honour killing ' and convicted 10 accused persons including the brother of Kevin's wife in the case. Saturday will be announced the punishment.
On May 24, 2018, at a civil ceremony in Kottayam, Kevin married Neenu Chacko (20) to the consternation of the family of Neenu who opposed it because of his caste. Two days later, a gang reportedly at the behest of Neenu's family, especially her brother Syanu Chacko, kidnapped Kevin and his friend Aneesh from his house.Since Aneesh was released by the gang, Kevin’s body was fished out of a canal near Thenmala in Kollam district.
On Thursday, Judge C Jayachandran convicted 10 persons including Syanu Chacko under charges of murder (Section 302), kidnapping (Section 364 A), criminal conspiracy (Section 120 B), house-trespass (Section 449), voluntarily causing hurt (Section 321), wrongful confinement (Section 342) and criminal intimidation (Section 506-2), whereas the court acquitted Neenu’s father Chacko and three others in the case for want of evidence.T
