"Kerala High Court Issues Notice to State on Greeshma's Appeal Against Death Sentence in Sharon Raj Murder Case"
*In the case of Greeshma Sreekkutty & Anr. v. State of Kerala* The Kerala High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the State of Kerala regarding the appeal filed by Greeshma, who has been sentenced to death for the murder of 23-year-old Sharon Raj, a resident of Thiruvananthapuram. A Division Bench comprising Justices PB Suresh Kumar and Jobin Sebastian considered her appeal challenging both the conviction and the imposition of the death penalty. The Bench directed the State to submit its response to the appeal challenging Greeshma's conviction and death sentence. Additionally, the Court instructed the State to respond to her application seeking a suspension of the death penalty. Notably, the Court also ordered the suspension of the three-year imprisonment sentence imposed on Greeshma’s uncle, Nirmala Kumaran Nair, a co-accused in the case.
2/7/20251 min read
Case Overview
In October 2022, Greeshma, a 24-year-old woman from Parassala, Kerala, was convicted for the premeditated murder of her 23-year-old boyfriend, Sharon Raj. She lured Sharon to her residence and administered a lethal dose of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide, mixed into an Ayurvedic tonic. Sharon succumbed to multiple organ failure after an 11-day battle for his life.
Court Analysis
The Neyyattinkara Additional Sessions Court, in its 586-page judgment, characterized the crime as "rarest of the rare," warranting the death penalty. The court emphasized Greeshma's meticulous planning and execution of the murder, highlighting her betrayal of Sharon's trust. The prosecution's argument that Greeshma's actions were driven by a desire to end the relationship, especially after her family arranged her marriage elsewhere, was upheld.
Judgment
On January 20, 2025, the court sentenced Greeshma to death for the murder of Sharon Raj. Her uncle, Nirmalakumaran Nair, was sentenced to three years of rigorous imprisonment for his role in destroying evidence. The court also recommended victim compensation to Sharon's parents under the Victim Compensation Scheme.