Soumya rape-murder: SC rejects Kerala govt's curative petition seeking death sentence for Govindachami

The SC bench heard the petition and rejected the claim that Soumya was denied justice An earlier SC verdict had commuted the death penalty awarded to Govindachami 

The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the curative petition filed by the Kerala government in the Soumya rape and murder case, seeking death sentence for convict Govindachami.

An earlier SC verdict had commuted the death penalty awarded to Govindachami by the Thrissur fast-track court and confirmed the Kerala High Court, saying that his intention was to sexually assault Soumya and the murder was incidental.

The government then filed the curative petition challenging Govindachami's acquittal from murder charge. A six-member bench, headed by chief justice JS Kehar, heard the petition and rejected the claim that Soumya was denied justice.

The curative petition was the last resort to seek restoration of an earlier verdict. The state government's curative petition was filed after the SC had dismissed a review petition filed by Soumya's mother.