The Thiruvananthapuram Additional District & Sessions Court - VI Judge Vishnu K  on Tuesday sentenced Cadell Jeansen Raja, the sole accused in the Nanthancode quadruple murder case, to life imprisonment. Additionally, the court has imposed a fine of ₹15 lakh. 

He was convicted of murder, destruction of evidence and arson. According to the verdict, rigorous life imprisonment will begin only after the convict has served 12 years; 7 years for arson and 5 years for destruction of evidence. The compensation amount shall be given to Jose Sundaram, brother of Jean Padma. The prosecution expressed satisfaction over the verdict. "One interesting aspect of the verdict is that Cadell will be in prison for 12 years as punishment for arson and destruction of evidence and then only his life imprisonment will begin. This means that if the state government doesn't choose to remit his sentence after 14 years, he shall remain in prison for 25-30 years," said Advocate Dileep Sathyan, Special Prosecutor.

The prosecution had argued for a capital sentence during the hearing. "Cadell has been under treatment at the Government mental hospital. His mental condition may have influenced the verdict. Sentiments of the society don't govern verdicts. The basic principle of our judicial system is reformative theory. Aggravating and mitigating circumstances are taken into account while delivering verdicts. The prosecution expresses complete satisfaction over the verdict," Advocate Dileep said.  

The incident took place on April 5 and 6 2017, when Cadell Jeansen Raja's parents, Prof Raja Thankam (60) and Dr Jean Padma (58), his sister Caroline (26), and his aunt Lalitha (70), were found brutally murdered at house number 117 in Baines Compound, near Cliff House.

According to officials, Cadell used a hatchet to kill the four victims and later burned the bodies of three in the bathroom. One body was found wrapped in bed sheets inside the house. After committing the murders, the accused fled to Chennai. However, police nabbed him on April 10.