Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 1: After finding that the charges of murder levelled against three accused were proved, the sixth additional district and sessions court here awarded life terms along with Rs 70000 by way of fine. They had been accused of killing Neelu alias Neelayya Poojary (33), a rowdy sheeter from Kotekar near here.

Judge of the court, K M Radhakrishna, found the accused, Santosh Rai (35) from Kotekar, Sudhakar alias Chidananda (35)from Kotekar, and Krishnaprasad Rai (52) from Talapady guilty of the charges. Jagadish (29) and Kishan (35) from Kotekar, who were accused of having conceived the murder conspiracy, have been acquitted for want of conclusive evidence.

The trio has got life term imprisonment and Rs 50,000 fine for murder, seven years imprisonment and Rs 20,000 for conspiracy to murder. One year of simple imprisonment has been awarded for blocking the movement of the murdered man.

Neelayya was a man with a criminal background. On September 4, 2013, a five-member gang, as per a plan to kill him, had stopped Neelayya's car at Madyar junction after which he was stabbed 38 times, resulting in his death. Public prosecutor, Jayaram Shetty, had appeared in the case on behalf of the prosecution.