New Delhi: The Supreme Court has commuted death sentence of the convict in the 2001 Aluva massacre, Antony, to life term.
The SC had in 2001 stayed the death sentence awarded to Antony, who was convicted for killing six of a family in Aluva.
The victims of the massacre that sent shock waves across the state were Augustine, wife Baby, his children Divya, 16; and Jesmon, 12; mother Clara and sister Kochurani.
They were found lying in a pool of blood by Baby's brother. They were murdered on January 6, 2001.
Antony was awarded death sentence by the CBI court in 2005. The High Court upheld in the verdict in 2006. He then moved the Supreme Court against the HC order. The SC upheld the death sentence in 2009.
The president rejected Antony's mercy petition in 2015.
After his mercy plea was rejected, Antony moved the SC again, which has now commuted his sentence.
Antony was a distant relative and friend of Augustine, who was the owner of Manjooran Hardwares. Antony was irked with Augustine for refusing to give him money to go abroad, that eventually led to the mass murder.
Read more: Latest Kerala news
