Life term for Shivamogga man in 2022 murder, assault bid

Shivamogga: A 36-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the III additional district and sessions court for the murder of a 50-year-old woman after she resisted his sexual assault attempt in Dec 2022.The convict, Rajappa, a resident of Bidaragodu village in Thirthahalli taluk, was working alongside the victim in an arecanut plantation and attempted to sexually assault her. When she resisted and threatened to expose him to her family, he struck her on the head and one ear with the blunt end of a pickaxe, killing her on the spot, according to police.He then tied her body with a black drip irrigation pipe and threw it into a plantation pond to destroy evidence.Following a probe by then-Malur circle inspector Praveen Neelammanavar, a chargesheet was filed under sections 354, 302 and 201 of the IPC. Judge Yashwanth Kumar found the accused guilty and ordered life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000.Speaking to reporters Friday, Shivamogga SP B Nikhil stated that the severe sentence handed down by the court ensured that justice was finally served for the victim’s family after four years.

This conviction is a result of thorough scientific investigation and robust evidence collection by our team, he said.Tailor booked for sexual assaultIn a separate incident in Durgigudi in Shivamogga city, a case was registered against a local tailor for allegedly sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman under the false pretext of marriage. The accused allegedly entered into a relationship with the woman who works at a private hotel and repeatedly assaulted her after promising marriage. When he later reneged on his promise, the woman approached the police.