Woman convicted for murder of step daughter
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 27 2018:
Session Judge Imphal East, Gaiphulshillu Golmei has convicted a 3l year old woman for the murder of her 7 years old step daughter on November 19, 2015.The Court also fixed March 8 for announcing the quantum of punishment after the sentence hearing of the case.
The landmark judgement order was announced today before the open Court after it was kept reserved from February 17, after continuous final argument hearing of the trial on February 14 and 17.The convicted woman, Thiyam (o) Ibemcha w/o Th Regan Singh of Thiyam Konjin Makha Mamang Leikai, who is presently lodged in Manipur Central Jail, Old Lambulane, was produced before the Court for the announcement of the judgement order.
On the day of the argument hearing, the Court heard the submission of Additional Public Prosecution counsel, M Bishambor and Advocate Supriya, the defense counsel of the convict.
The Court order mentioned that the deposition of the witnesses of the case and the statement of the convict made it crystal clear that the convict had the urge to kill the victim, as evident from her statement that she would be free and also get enough attention from her husband if the victim died, and she followed up with smothering and strangulating the victim.
It mentioned that the prosecution has proved beyond doubt that the accused/convict had prior intention to kill the child.
The order further mentioned that considering the statement of the witnesses and the materials on record, it is established beyond doubt that the accused/convict intentionally and deliberately murdered the victim.
According to the order, the Court found the case fit enough to convict Thiyam (o) Ibemcha for the murder of the victim, Thiyam Nevia and fixed March 8 for the sentence hearing.
The case was committed to Session Judge Imphal East on August 8, the same year.
Charge was framed against the accused/convict on January 17 this year and the examination of the first prosecution witness was recorded by the Court on February 14.During the one year long trial of the case, 15 prosecution witnesses were examined and recorded by the Court as no defense witness were produced before the Court.
It may be mentioned that on November 19, 2015, at around 6 pm, the complainant of the case, Thiyam Inao reported before the OC, Irilbung PS that while he along with other family members, were harvesting paddy at their field located at Pangei Ngairakpam Khundrakpam side, he received news from his sister in-law Thiyam (o) Ibemcha (the second wife of his elder brother Thiyam Regan) that her step daughter Thiyam Nevia (7) was found dead on the bed of the complainant's mother Thiyam (o) Thambalsana.
During the course of the investigation, the step mother (convict) surrendered before Irilbung PS and was arrested in connection with the case the next day at around 2 pm.
During preliminary interrogation, she revealed that she murdered her step daughter.
She disclosed that she was married to Th Regan after he divorced his first wife.
She revealed that on the fateful day, taking advantage of the absence of people in the house, she smothered the victim using a pillow and later shifted the dead body to the bed of her mother in law.