Kerala court finds husband guilty for killing wife using Cobra

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kollam Additional Sessions Court has pronounced judgement on the murder case that rocked Kerala last May, declaring that her husband Sooraj S Kumar was guilty of all charges. Sooraj was the prime accused in the case and was arrested on the basis of evidence that revealed that he had carefully and deliberately planned and executed the murder of his wife. The court will deliver the quantum of punishment on October 13.

Uthra was found dead in her bedroom last year due to snakebite. The case attracted widespread attention for the unusual nature of the murder and the Kollam Crime Branch had filed a 1000 page chargesheet detailing the methods, planning and execution of the murder. They had also demanded the death penalty for Sooraj on account of the gruesome nature of the crime.

Sooraj's plan to murder his wife through seemingly accidental snakebite was foiled the first time as Uthra was rushed to the hospital in time. Though he succeeded the second time, suspicions were raised and a police investigation was opened. Uthra's parents had also alleged that he had harassed her multiple times for more dowry. The police claimed that Sooraj purchased both the viper and the cobra from a snake handler to kill his wife and make it seem like a natural snakebite.