Death Penalty Handed Down in Nenmara Double Murder – Chenthamara Convicted

On Monday, the Palakkad Additional Sessions Court delivered a verdict that many had been waiting for: Chenthamara, the 59‑year‑old accused in the notorious Nenmara double murder case, was sentenced to death.

Judge Kenneth George, who presided over the hearing, also ordered a fine of Rs 20 lakh, directing that the amount be paid as compensation to the victims’ family. In his oral remarks the judge flagged the case as falling under the "rarest of the rare" category, a phrase that carries a lot of weight in Indian capital‑punishment jurisprudence.

The crime in question took place on 27 January 2025, when Sudhakaran, 55, and his 75‑year‑old mother Lakshmi were hacked to death at Boyanunnathi in Thiruthampadam, Nenmara. No eyewitnesses were present, but the prosecution’s circumstantial evidence, ranging from forensic findings to phone‑records, stitched together a narrative that the court said left “no reasonable doubt” about Chenthamara’s guilt.

During the sentencing, the accused initially claimed he had nothing to say. Moments later he turned defiant, shouting, “Go ahead and hang me. I’ll kill others too.” He went on to add, “I’m not Mahatma Gandhi to turn the other cheek when someone slaps me. Write whatever you want.” The court noted these threats as a further aggravating factor.

Defense counsel Jacob Mathew, on the other hand, pleaded for leniency, arguing that Chenthamara had shown remorse and could be re‑formed. The lawyer even suggested that wages earned from prison labour could be earmarked for the children of Sudhakaran and his wife Sajitha. The court, however, brushed aside those pleas, emphasizing the lack of genuine contrition.

Public Prosecutor M. J. Vijayakumar, who represented the state, argued vehemently for the death penalty, stating that the accused’s behaviour after the murders—particularly his hostile remarks towards the court—demonstrated a “complete absence of remorse.” A mitigation report prepared by the District Legal Services Authority, submitted before sentencing, did note a superficial expression of regret, but the judge deemed it insufficient to outweigh the gravity of the offences.

Chenthamara is currently lodged in the District Jail at Malampuzha, awaiting the formalities that follow a capital sentence. The fine of Rs 20 lakh has been earmarked as compensation for the bereaved family, a move intended to offer some measure of justice beyond the ultimate punishment.

As the community of Nenmara grapples with the horror of that night in January 2025, many hope that the verdict will bring a sense of closure. Whether the appeal process will alter the outcome remains to be seen, but for now, the court’s decision stands as a stark reminder of the law’s sternest response to the most heinous crimes.