Son and daughter get death sentence for killing father

Hyderabad: A principal district & sessions judge on Monday awarded the death penalty to the son and daughter of a retired railway employee for poisoning and murdering their 70-year-old father, Maruthi Suthar. Suthar’s wife, Ganga Bai, was sentenced to life imprisonment. The crime, committed on Aug 16, 2019, in Medchal-Malkajgiri district, involved the trio’s attempt to siphon Maruthi’s pension.The accused mixed a datura fruit powder into Maruthi’s food, leading to his death. They then dismembered his body and stored it in six buckets purchased by Kishan Suthar, the son. Before the murder, the accused had researched painless murder techniques on YouTube. The body remained in their Moula Ali residence for nearly two days until a foul odour alerted locals.When concerned neighbours enquired about the constant foul odour, daughter Prapulla Suthar, along with her mother, dismissed it, saying they were not getting any smell. However, upon entering the house, the locals discovered the decomposed body parts in the kitchen and immediately informed the Malkajgiri police.The investigation revealed frequent quarrels between the deceased and his son, Kishan, who is unemployed. The court, after considering scientific evidence and the witness statements, convicted the three accused on May 20. While deciding the quantum of punishment on Monday (June 8), the victim’s son and daughter were given capital punishment, whereas Ganga was directed to undergo life imprisonment.