Mangaluru: Man found guilty of his wife's murder

Mangaluru: The First Additional District and Sessions Court of Mangaluru held the husband guilty of assaulting his wife over a trivial matter and causing her death.

The quantum of punishment in the case will be pronounced on June 16.

A plantation worker, Johnson K M (41), a resident of Neriyakadu Kottakkar, Neriya village near Dharmasthala, was facing charges of killing his wife Soumya Francis (36) on the night of January 7, 2021. He was accused of attacking Soumya with a stick over a trivial issue resulting in her death.

Belthangady police had registered a case based on a complaint by the victim’s brother, Sanoj Francis. According to the complaint, Johnson subjected Soumya to mental and physical torture and despite counseling at the church he continued his abusive behavior.

A case was filed under IPC 498 (A), 302, and relevant sections. After an extensive trial, the court pronounced the guilty verdict in the case on Friday.