Flesh stuck in victim’s teeth brought them close to gallows

www.mangaloretoday.com

Chamarajanagar, Aug 18, 2013: Badraiahnahalli, is a remote village in Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar district. Two persons from this village are now making headlines across the nation, as they await their execution.

Fifteen days ahead of her marriage, on December 15, 2001 Shivamma of the same village  had been to work in a small farm belonging to her family. Two youths from the village, Jadeswamy and Shivu followed her. The duo raped and killed the bride-to-be.

 

When Shivamma did not return home from the farm, her mother grew suspicious and began searching for her, only to find her daughter’s body. A case of rape and murder was registered at Ramapura police station.

The gruesome incident had sent shockwaves across the State. While Shivu was single, the other convict Jadeswamy had tied the nuptial knot only 20 days before the incident.

Piece of flesh
In several cases of rape, the accused often walk away free, owing to lack of evidence. But, it was different in Shivamma’s case.  In her bid to save herself from the attackers, Shivamma had bitten Shivu, one of the two guilty in the case. A piece of his flesh had got stuck in her teeth, which later proved to be the major evidence.

While conducting autopsy, doctors found this piece of flesh, which was sent for DNA analysis. The analysis confirmed that the flesh belonged to Shivu. As many as 36 people were listed as witnesses in the case. Two women from the village who had seen the inhumane act too were listed as prime witnesses.

After a lengthy investigation and testimony of prime witnesses, the then district sessions judge S D Paramraj sentenced the duo to death on July 30, 2005.

Pardon sought
Later, in November 5005 the two moved the High Court, which upheld the decision of the sessions court. Even the Supreme Court upheld the decision in 2007. However, Shivu’s mother, Chellamma on February 28, 2007 appealed to the President to grant pardon to Shivu, which was recently turned down by the President Pranab Mukherjee.