The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru convicted Jonas Samson, 35, and Victoria Mathias, 47, of murder. Shrimati Shetty. The third defendant, Raju, 34, was sentenced to six and a half months simple imprisonment for concealing stolen goods.
Justice Malikajuna Swamy HS delivered the sentence based on the charges under the Indian Penal Code. Jonas Samson and Victoria Mathias were found guilty under IPC sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) and fined Rs 10 lakh. 25,000 per person.
Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional year of simple imprisonment. They were also convicted under IPC Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) and each was liable to a fine of Rs 5,000 and, in case of failure to pay the fine, an additional three months imprisonment. They were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for extortion under Section 392 of IPC. A fine of $5,000 and, if the fine is not paid, an additional six months’ imprisonment.
Raju was convicted under Section 414 of the IPC for assisting in concealing stolen property and was fined Rs 5,000.
The court has directed to provide compensation of Rs. to Shrimati Shetty’s mother. 75,000, facilitated through legal services agencies.
The police report stated that the victim was a 42-year-old resident of Attavara in Mangaluru and ran an electronics store and charity fund business. On May 11, 2019, Jonas defaulted on payments to the fund and he got into an argument with Shetty at Shetty’s residence. Together with Victoria, he robbed Shetty of her gold jewelry and committed murder. They dismembered her body, placed its parts in plastic bags and dumped them in various locations around the city. They also burned her belongings to destroy evidence.
The crime was discovered three days later when body parts were found near a shop in Qadri and more remains were found in Nandigude. During the trial, Justice Mallikarjuna Swamy examined 48 witnesses and examined 141 documents to reach his verdict.
