Murderer step-mother gets lifer
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 08 2018:
Session Judge Imphal East, Gaiphulshillu Golmei, sentenced a 31 years old murder convict, a stepmother to imprisonment for life, after sentence hearing today.
Thiyam (o) Ibemcha w/o Th Regan of Thiyam Konjin Makha Mamang Leikai was convicted on February 27, by the Session Court for the murder of her 7 years old step-daughter on November 19, 2015.During the sentence hearing today, the Court heard Public Prosecutor M Bishambor and the legal aid counsel appearing on behalf of the convict.
The PP submitted that the stepmother has been convicted under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code, for murdering her minor stepdaughter, Thiyam Nevia Devi.
The PP further prayed to punish the convict to the maximum degree as she knew that the offence committed by her is against the law and she executed the murder in cold blood.
On the other hand, the legal aid counsel prayed for punishing the convict to a lesser degree and pointed out that no allegations, except the present one, has so far been made against the convict and the convict is not a habitual offender nor has any prior conviction in connection with any criminal offence.
The counsel also submitted that the convict is still young and prayed for giving a chance to correct herself and also pointed out that the convict has been injudicial custody since November 25, 2015 and prayed for setting aside the period from her sentence.
Session Judge Imphal East, upon hearing the Public Prosecution and the legal aid counsel of the convict and after going through the relevant documents, sentenced convict Thiyam (O) Ibemcha to simple imprisonment for life in an open Court today.
It may be mentioned that the charges were framed against the convict on January 17, last year, and the examination of the first prosecution witness was recorded on February 14.During the one year long trial of the case, 15 prosecution witnesses were examined and recorded by the Court but no defense witness were produced before the Court It may also be mentioned that on November 19, 2015, at around 6 pm, the complainant of the case, Thiyam Inao, the victim's uncle, reported before the OC of 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 the convict that her stepdaughter was found dead on the bed of his (Inao's) mother Thiyam (O) Thambalsana.
During the course of the investigation, the convict surrendered before Irilbung PS and was arrested in connection with the case on the next day, at around 2 pm.
During preliminary interrogation, the convict revealed that she murdered her stepdaughter and also 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 her mother-in-law's bed.
Incidentally, the convict was awarded life sentence when the world was observing International Women's Day.
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