Court acquits all four accused in Leenamani murder case

The Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Court-VI has acquitted all four accused in the murder case of Leenamani of Ayiroor, near Varkala. Judge R. Rekha delivered the verdict on Wednesday.

The accused had faced charges connected with the death of 53-year-old Leenamani, who was allegedly attacked over a property dispute after approaching the court for protection from domestic violence. Leenamani, the wife of Siyad alias Shan of Ayiroor, was murdered on July 16, 2023. Her domestic help, Sarasu, was injured in the incident.

The accused were identified as Siyad’s brothers Shaji, 46, Abdul Ahad, 42, and Muhsin, 52, and Abdul Ahad’s wife, Raheena, 34. The prosecution alleged that they had conspired to take possession of property belonging to Leenamani’s husband, who had died about 18 months before the crime. According to the prosecution case, the group attacked Leenamani at her residence using weapons, including an iron rod.

Sarasu, who was injured, was presented as a key eyewitness. Leenamani later died of her injuries. The court considered witness statements, medical evidence, circumstantial evidence and material relating to the alleged weapons.

The defence pointed to contradictions in witness accounts and the absence of crucial evidence. The court concluded that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. All four accused were consequently acquitted.