The Supreme Court has overturned the death sentence of Reji Kumar, the accused in the Aamayoor mass murder case, in which he was convicted for killing his wife and children. The apex court nullified the Kerala High Court’s decision that had upheld the death sentence. The verdict was reconsidered in light of Reji Kumar’s 16 years of good conduct in prison.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed the superintendent of Viyyur Central Jail to submit a detailed report on Reji Kumar’s behavior and work during his time in jail. Based on that report, the court decided to cancel the death sentence.
In 2009, Palakkad Principal Sessions Judge Natarajan had sentenced Reji Kumar to death. The Kerala High Court upheld the verdict in 2014. Reji Kumar’s lawyer argued that neither the trial court nor the High Court considered the possibility of his reformation. The Supreme Court accepted this argument.
The murder spree began on July 8, 2008. The case stated that Reji Kumar had methodically murdered his wife Lissy and children Amalya, Amal, Amalu, and Amanya. Lissy was killed on July 8. Amanya and Amal were killed on July 13, and Amalu and Amalya on July 23. Lissy’s body was found in a septic tank, while the decomposed bodies of Amal and Amalya were discovered in a nearby property.
