Angamaly infant’s murder: Grandma kept knife ready, acted in rage, say cops

Kochi: Rosy, 63, who slashed her six-month-old granddaughter, Delna Maria Sarah, to death at Karukutty near Angamaly on Wednesday, was driven by rage and even kept the knife ready, police said. The grisly murder unfolded on what was meant to be a day of celebration — the fourth birthday of Delna’s elder brother. A family which was preparing for a cheerful evening now deals with a heart-shattering loss and an unsuspecting killer.

 The infant murder case has shaken Karippala, a quiet neighbourhood near Karukutty. According to police, Rosy killed the baby out of anger and frustration, the reasons for which are yet to be fathomed by the cops. The police said she had even kept the knife ready before committing the crime. The revelation has left relatives and neighbours deeply shocked, as the family had shown no signs of discord until the tragedy struck.

Rosy, who has been hospitalised following the baby's death, was arrested on Thursday and produced before the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, Angamaly, which remanded her into judicial custody. "It is not clear why she harboured such anger towards the baby or her parents. Further investigation is required," said police sources.

The chilling incident took place around 9 am on Wednesday at the family’s home in Karippala, Karukutty. Delna was found dead with deep neck injuries in the bedroom where she had been lying beside her grandmother. Her mother, Ruth, had reportedly stepped into the kitchen for a few minutes. When she returned, the baby was lying unconscious in a pool of blood. Neighbours rushed in on hearing her screams and took the baby to a nearby hospital, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.

The crime has stunned the entire neighbourhood. "Everything was going smoothly in Rosy’s family until a few health issues began a month ago," said Mani, a neighbour who rushed the child to the hospital. "Rosy had been hospitalised recently after her sodium levels dropped. Her husband Devassy suffered a minor stroke soon after. Apart from these health problems, there were no other issues in the family. We are all still in shock," he said. 

According to the neighbours, Antony, the baby’s father, works in merchant ships and was waiting to return to work after Delna’s baptism, which had been postponed due to the health issues in the family. "They were a happy family, planning to build a new house nearby. On Wednesday, they were preparing to celebrate their elder son’s birthday when the tragedy struck," said Tony Parappilly, the local ward member.

The police had earlier recovered a blood-stained knife from the room and confirmed that only Rosy was present with the infant at the time of the murder.

The police have recorded statements from family members and neighbours and are analysing forensic evidence, including the recovered knife.