Murder accused found dead two days ahead of trial

A 34-year-old man accused of having murdered a teenage girl in 2014 was found hanging near his home late on Monday.

The  Trial was scheduled to begin on Wednesday. Binuraj, the lone accused in the case, was found dead in a vacant building in Udayamperoor in Ernakulam.

He was accused of murdering Neetu Babu (17), with whom he was in a relationship for two years.

Following attempts by the couple to start living together, their families had intervened and agreed to their marriage after she turned 18.

Police said Binuraj later had suspicions that Neetu was ignoring him and in another relationship which led him to kill her.

On the morning of December 18, 2014, Binuraj reportedly entered Neetu's home where she was alone and attacked her with a machete.  She sustained  serious injuries on her neck and head, and died on the spot.

Last week, a man convicted of murder had attempted suicide in Ernakulam by consuming a poisonous fruit before a court was scheduled to pronounce the quantum of sentence.

A special court had found Rejith (31) guilty of murdering a four-year-old girl in 2013, for being a "hindrance" to his relationship with her mother. On Monday, the court sentenced him to death.