Kottayam: A court here will consider on October 29 a prosecution plea to complete proceedings in the Kevin Joseph murder case within six months, considering it as an honour killing.
Lawyers for the accused sought time, but the special prosecutor pointed out that the High Court had rejected the bail plea of the 10 accused in the case on the argument that it is an honour killing.
The court has put off the bail pleas of accused Shefin, Vishnu and Lalu to October 25. The case will be taken up on November 11 again.
The charge-sheet says that Kevin Joseph, a Dalit Christian from Kottayam, was kidnapped and murdered by a gang led by Sanu Chacko, brother of Kevin's fiancee Neenu Chacko on May 27. Sanu is the prime accused while his father Chacko is the fifth accused. Both are under remand, along with three others. All 14 accused in the case appeared on Monday.
Kevin's father Joseph and Neenu's mother Rehna reached the court on Monday to watch the proceedings. Joseph, who returned after a while, said Neenu was also interested
in coming but was told to stay home as the prosecution did not want her presence. Neenu, who studies at the Amalagiri College, lives with Kevin's parents. She moved in there after Kevin's body was found in Chaliyekkara river in Kollam district.
