Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 12: The Karnataka high court on Thursday October 12 sentenced serial killer Cyanide Mohan to life imprisonment until death without remission, thus rejecting the death sentence pronounced earlier by a trial court.

Based on the evidence provided by the prosecution and considering the the gravity of his offences, the division bench consisting of Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice John Michael Cunha pronounced the judgement.

"Cyanide Mohan Kumar is dangerous to the society, especially to women. Hence he should be confined in jail till the end of his life, without showing any mercy for any reason whatsoever," the court said.

File Photo

Cyanide Mohan is charged with luring and murdering 20 women. In 2013, he was convicted of murdering three of his victims - Anita Barimar at KSRTC bus stand on June 18, 2009, Leela Vamadapadavu on September 10, 2005 at Mysuru bus stand, and Sunanda, on February 11, 2008. Recently, he was given life imprisonment in yet another similar case.

Mohan had appealed against the death penalty in the high court, arguing that there was not enough proof to hold him guilty. "Police personnel had registered first information reports against me merely on the basis of records of telephonic calls. There are no eyewitnesses. After arresting me, the police got certain statements executed by me under duress," he had claimed. All along his trial, Mohan refused to hire counsel and argued his own case.