Man gets 8 years RI for murder

A 31 year-old youth Malathesh who stabbed a friend during a verbal dispute was sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment by the Additional District and Sessions Court VI on Tuesday.

Judge D T Puttarangaswamy found Malathesh, a resident of Thavaratheppa in Soraba Taluk in Shivamogga district, guilt of the offence and convicted besides slapping Rs 5000 fine.

He will have to undergo an additional two months of imprisonment for default of the fine amount.

Judith O M Crasta was the Public Prosecutor.

Malathesh was working as a conductor in a private bus and victim Jayaraj was a daily wager. Both also used to pick pockets and petty thefts.

Quarrel

On October 1, 2014, a quarrel erupted between them at Central Railway station, over an issue of sharing cash from a purse which they had picked from a passenger. Jayaraj in a fit of rage attempted to stab Malathesh with his knife. In defence Malathesh grabbed the knife from Jayaraj’s hand and stabbed his chest region leading to his death.

Malathesh was arrested from Shivamogga on October 21, 2014.

Out on bail, he reportedly murdered his wife in 2015 at Thavaratheppa. He was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime. He was also involved in the murder of one, Gafoor of Sullia, in Bejai, Anegundi in the year 2006.