In a swift judicial process, a special court for Pocso Act cases in Madurai awarded a double death sentence to a 38-year-old man, Dharmamuneeswaran, just 75 days after he raped and murdered a 17-year-old girl in an interior village in Tuticorin district. The verdict, delivered by Sessions Judge M Breetha on Monday, relied heavily on clinching forensic evidence and CCTV footage from a nearby windmill.
Details of the Crime
The victim, who had ventured out to answer nature's call, was waylaid by the accused. The crime occurred on March 10, and the trial began on April 5, concluding within eight weeks after all 17 witnesses were examined. Police filed the chargesheet within 21 days, demonstrating an efficient investigation process.
Key Evidence Leading to Conviction
Three factors emerged as pivotal in securing the conviction: a wind farm CCTV footage, DNA evidence, and the movements of a stolen two-wheeler. The prosecution relied heavily on forensic evidence collected during the investigation. Samples from the shirt worn by the accused matched the girl's blood group, while semen samples from the victim matched the accused's DNA. Inspector-General of Police (South Zone) Vijayendra S Bidari stated, "This was a blind case. We cracked it using scientific evidence and the DNA match became the clinching proof."
Investigators analyzed nearly 1,000 hours of footage from CCTV cameras installed between Vedanatham village and Tuticorin town. A standalone camera at a windmill farm near the crime scene provided the breakthrough. The footage showed Dharmamuneeswaran entering the village around 2:30 pm on March 10, nearly four hours before the crime, and leaving at 6:30 am on March 11. Police identified him through a checked shirt seen in the footage and tracked his movements toward Tuticorin town.
Timeline Established via Mobile Phone
Kulathur police noted that the accused used his mobile phone while entering the village before switching it off. The phone was switched on again around 7 pm on March 11 in Tuticorin town, approximately 45 minutes after he was captured leaving the village in the CCTV footage. This helped the prosecution establish the timeline of the crime.
Stolen Two-Wheeler and Previous Conviction
Movements of a stolen two-wheeler used by the accused were also traced. Dharmamuneeswaran, whose life sentence in a similar case had been suspended by a local court on December 18, stole the bike from Parthibanur in Ramanathapuram district the same night and altered the number plate from '5370' to '6870' to avoid detection. He regularly visited Vedanatham village with friends during February and used the vehicle to survey entry and exit routes before committing the crime.
Court's Decision
Special Public Prosecutor V Ellammal Kissinger said, "Although the defence sought a reduction in sentence, the court considered the antecedent of the accused and awarded him a double death sentence." The verdict underscores the significance of scientific evidence in achieving justice in heinous crimes.
