Advocate gets lifer for murdering woman colleague in corridors of K'taka HC

Bengaluru: Nearly eight years after a woman advocate was murdered in broad daylight in the corridors of the Karnataka High Court, the accused, a lawyer himself, was awarded life imprisonment by the city civil and sessions court on Saturday.

The convicted SL Rajappa, a Kolar native was said to be in a relationship with Naveena and the two were supposed to tie the nuptial knot. However, Rajappa grew suspicious of her and often picked up a fight with her, accusing her of having an affair with someone else. As Naveena threatened to end their relationship, Rajappa took the decision of murdering her. 

On July 8 2010, Rajappa managed to enter the court premises with the knife. During the lunch recess, he confronted Naveena and after a brief argument he slit her throat and inflicted multiple stab injuries on her near court hall No 4 of the high court. He later locked himself up in a washroom and attempted to commit suicide by consuming poison and stabbing himself.

However, advocates and Vidhana Soudha police broke open the door and he was arrested. 

The city civil and sessions court held that Rajappa was guilty of carrying out a pre-meditated murder and on the basis of the witness statements sentenced him to life imprisonment