4-year-old girl's murder: Death penalty for prime accused

A special court in Ernakulam hearing cases of atrocities against women and children on Monday sentenced to death a man for murdering a four-year-old girl in 2013.

The court had on January 10 found Rejith (31) guilty of having murdered the child for being a 'hindrance' to his relationship with her mother. Two others accused in the case - the child's mother Rani and another man, Basil - were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The special court, originally scheduled to pronounce the quantum of sentence on Friday, postponed the sentencing after Rejith attempted suicide by consuming a poisonous fruit.

The incident happened at Rani's home in Chottanikkara in Ernakulam on October 29, 2013.

Rejith assaulted the child, a kindergarten student, leaving her head smashed against a wall.

Rani had initially approached the police in Chottanikkara and lodged a complaint stating that the child was missing. The police found inconsistencies in her statements and a probe revealed the role of Rani and Basil in the conspiracy to kill the child.

The probe established that Rejith had killed the child and buried her body at a construction site near Piravom. Rani, estranged from her husband, was living with her daughter and Basil at the time of the incident.