Death for Anuhya killer

Mumbai: A women's court here on Friday sentenced to death a 29-year-old man found guilty of robbing, raping, burning and killing Esther Anuhya, a techie from Machilipatnam on January 5, 2014.

Terming it as the 'rarest of rare cases', Special Judge Vrushali Joshi pronounced the verdict against Chandrabhan Sudam Sanap, who was found guilty of multiple crimes on October 27.

Judge Joshi observed: "This is the rarest of rare cases... For the murder charge, the accused shall be hanged by the neck till death."

The women's court also sentenced Sanap to life imprisonment under the Indian Penal Code Section 376A (rape), and awarded 10 years' imprisonment under Section 376(2) (M) for persistent sexual assault.

The 23-year-old victim's father, Jonathan Prasad and brother Thomas Noble - welcomed the verdict. "Justice has been done and we are grateful to the police, courts and media for taking up the cause so diligently...It will serve as a deterrent to others," Prasad told media persons outside the court.

Mumbai Police recovered a charred and decomposed body in Kanjurmarg on January 16. Esther's identity was established on the basis of a ring she was wearing. Later, Sanap was arrested and the Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare examined 39 witnesses,

including two who said they had seen the accused and the victim together. This clinched the case against Sanap. Mumbai Police spokesperson Dhananjay Kulkarni said on Friday that the prosecution successfully secured the conviction under all sections of the law under which the accused was tried.