India: Serial killer Cyanide Mohan sentenced to death

A court in Mangalore ruled the death penalty to Mohan Kumar also know as Cyanide Mohan for the murder of more than 20 women. Mohan, arrested in 2009, allegedly administered cyanide and after forcing women into sex, robbed of their possessions.

Mangalore, Dec 21: Most awaited judgements in this part of the country, the fourth additional district and session’s court Of Mangalore on Saturday December 21 sentenced to Serial killer Mohan Kumar (Cyanide Mohan) to death in the three cases he was convicted in.

Earlier this week, Mohan was convicted in three cases related to murders of Anitha of Barimar, Leelavathi of Vamadapadav and Sunanda of Peruvaje, Sullia. He is charged with killing another 17 women, all in the same way, by administering cyanide.

The death sentence will be carried out after confirmation from the high court.

Pronouncing the verdict, judge B K Nair said that these were the 'rarest of the rare cases' and the convict can be shown no mercy and deserves nothing less than death penalty.

He further said that Mohan tried to mislead the court during the hearing of the cases and showed no repentance for his crimes.

"Being a school teacher, he showed no sense of duty to his profession or responsibility towards society. Looking into his modus operandi and manner of killing, it was planned murder, loot and rape of three innocent unmarried women. There was no enmity or sudden occasion to kill them. This is extreme culpability and shows his brutal mentality," the judge said.

He also added that Mohan's crimes had shocked both the judicial system as well as the society.

Speaking to Media Persons , Special public prosecutor Mr.Cheyabba Beary hailed the court's decision and said that it was the first time in history that a person has been given death sentence in all the three cases he has been convicted in.

He too termed the case as 'rarest of the rare'.

Source: Demotix, December 21, 2013

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