Death sentence for girl’s rape-murder referred to HC

Madurai: The death sentence imposed by the trial court on a man for the rape and murder of Class XII girl in Vilathukulam in Tuticorin district was referred to Madras high court for confirmation on Friday.

Convict Dharmamuneeswaran, who appeared through video conference from Madurai central prison, stated that he had engaged a counsel to file an appeal against the trial court judgment. A division bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh and Justice K K Ramakrishnan posted the referred trial case for hearing on June 12.

A 17-year-old girl from a village in Tuticorin was found dead in a bush on March 11, nearly 300 metres from her home. She had gone missing on March 10 evening after she left the house to answer nature’s call. Police later discovered her body with strangulation injuries to the neck. Kulathur police altered the girl missing case to one under Section 103 (murder) of BNS and Sections of Pocso Act.

Subsequently, they arrested Dharmamuneeswaran, 38, of Ramanathapuram district. After completing investigation, police filed the chargesheet before the court. On May 25, the special court for exclusive trial of cases under Pocso Act convicted and sentenced Dharmamuneeswaran to death.