Kochi: A court on Thursday sentenced Rajendran, 40, of Kanyakumari to death for brutally killing Vineetha in February 2022 in Thiruvananthapuram, to rob her golden necklace, media reports said.
The Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Court VII had already pronounced Rajendran guilty of murder, robbery, trespass and destruction of evidence.
Special Public Prosecutor M Salahudeen said Rajendran was a hard core criminal and sought the death penalty for him.
He was involved in four murders across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The court had earlier sought detailed reports on the convict after the prosecution argued that the case could be classified as “rarest of rare.”
These reports, including one from the District Collector, concluded that the convict posed a continued threat to society and exhibited minimal potential for reformation. In her submission, District Collector Anu Kumari stated that the “serial killer” would resort to killing innocent people if set free.
District Police Chief (Thiruvananthapuram City) Thomson Jose characterised the accused as a serial killer with a dangerous mindset, taking pleasure in his crimes, particularly when victims were left fighting for their lives after suffering fatal neck injuries.
The Superintendent of the Palayamkottai Central Prison in Tirunelveli, where Rajendran was remanded in connection with a triple murder case in 2015, has also submitted a report to the court.
The accused allegedly murdered a customs officer, his wife and daughter, in an attempt to steal 95 grams of gold.
The Superintendent of the Palayamkottai Central Prison in Tirunelveli, where Rajendran was remanded in connection with a triple murder case in 2015, has also submitted a report to the court. The accused allegedly murdered a customs officer, his wife and daughter, in an attempt to steal 95 gram of gold.
In his report, the Superintendent stated that the prisoner’s behaviour “could not be ascertained” since the prison officers, who served during Rajendran’s incarceration, are no longer posted at the prison.
Gallows to serial killer
