Thiruvananthapuram woman sentenced to death for 2022 murder of Sharon Raj

The Additional District Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram has sentenced 24-year-old Greeshma to death for the 2022 murder of Sharon Raj, a 23-year-old from Parassala. The verdict, delivered on January 20, comes days after she was found guilty of murder. Her uncle, Nirmal Kumar, received three years of rigorous imprisonment for aiding the crime and destroying evidence. Her mother, Sindhu, was acquitted.

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The court ruled that the case fell under the "rarest of rare" category, warranting the death penalty despite her young age. The defence had argued for leniency, citing her academic promise and potential for reform, but the court rejected these arguments.

Sharon died on October 25, 2022, due to organ failure caused by poisoning. Investigations revealed that Greeshma, his girlfriend, had lured him to her home in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district on October 14. She served him an ayurvedic drink laced with poison, intending to kill him after he refused to end their relationship. Her parents had reportedly arranged her marriage to someone else.

Sharon showed signs of poisoning soon after leaving her house, including severe vomiting. His parents, unaware of the truth, even called Greeshma for details of the drink to aid in his treatment.

The court praised the investigation team for their efficient work and highlighted the betrayal of trust in the case.