2 lawyers among 7 sentenced to death for city doc murder

2 lawyers among 7 sentenced to death for city doc murder

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  05.08.2021

A city court on Wednesday sentenced two advocates and five others to death in the case of brutal murder of Dr Subbiah, a neurologist, seven years ago in Chennai. While two others were sentenced to life, the lone approver in the case was released without punishment. The murder of the doctor in broad daylight by a machete-wielding gang was captured on a CCTV installed in the neighbourhood.

First additional sessions judge S Alli on Wednesday announced the punishment after holding all the nine accused guilty. The crime was a fallout of a property dispute between the doctor and a Kanyakumari native, Ponnusamy, and his family. Others joined the conspiracy for gain. On September 14, 2013, the gang attacked Subbiah when he came out of Billroth Hospital in Raja Annamalaipuram. He died of injuries on September 23. Police arrested Dr James Satish Kumar and henchmen Murugan, Selva Prakash, Iyyappan, school teacher Ponnusamy, his wife P Mary Pushpam, and sons, P Basil, a lawyer, P Boris and Yesurajan. The prime accused, advocate B Williams, who was absconding, surrendered on August 2018.

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: A CCTV footage shows the doctor, his car and some gang members

‘Death penalty must for all accused’

During the final argument, special public prosecutor N Vijayaraj submitted that all the accused are directly involved in the murder and insisted the court award death penalty to all of them.

Now, on completion of the trial, the sessions judge sentenced Ponnusamy, Basil, Boris, William, James Satish Kumar, Murugan and Selva Prakash to double capital punishment for offences under Sections 302 and 120B of IPC.

The other two accused, Mary Pushpam and Yesurajan, have been sentenced to double life terms.

Iyyappan, who turned approver, was considered as a prosecution witness and was released without any punishment.

Directing that all the sentences ordered against the accused shall run concurrently, the court said, “of the total fine of ₹10 lakh, a sum of ₹1 lakh shall be appropriated to the state and balance ₹9 lakh to be paid to the wife of the deceased Shanthi Subbiah, as compensation under Section 357 (2) of the CrPC.”

Since the capital punishment has to be confirmed by the high court, the court directed the immediate transfer of case bundles to the high court for confirmation of the death sentence imposed under Section 366 of the CrPC.