The First Additional District and Sessions Court in Mangaluru sentenced Jonas Samson, 35, and Victoria Mathias, 47, for murdering Shrimati Shetty. A third accused, Raju, 34, received six and a half months of simple imprisonment for concealing stolen property.
Judge Mallikarjuna Swamy HS delivered the sentence based on established charges under the Indian Penal Code. Jonas Samson and Victoria Mathias were found guilty under IPC Section 302 (murder) and Section 34 (common intent) and were fined Rs. 25,000 each.
Non-payment of the fine will result in an additional year of simple imprisonment. They were also convicted under IPC Section 201 (causing the disappearance of evidence) and fined Rs 5,000 each, with an extra three months of imprisonment if unpaid. For extortion under IPC Section 392, they received a five-year term and a Rs. 5,000 fine, leading to six months of additional imprisonment if the fine is unpaid.
Raju was convicted under IPC Section 414 for aiding in the concealment of stolen property and fined Rs 5,000 alongside his sentence.
The court has directed that Shrimati Shetty’s mother be compensated with Rs. 75,000, facilitated through the legal services authority.
Police reported that the victim, a 42-year-old resident of Attavara in Mangaluru, managed an electronics shop and a chit fund business. Jonas, who had defaulted on his chit fund payments, had an argument with Shetty at his residence on May 11, 2019. Jonas struck her with a wooden object, rendering her unconscious. Along with Victoria, he robbed Shetty of her gold ornaments and committed the murder. They dismembered her body, placed the parts in plastic sacks, and disposed of them in different city locations. They also burnt her belongings to destroy evidence.
The crime was discovered three days later when a body part was found near a shop in Kadri, which led to the recovery of further remains in Nandigudde. During the trial, Judge Mallikarjuna Swamy examined 48 witnesses and reviewed 141 documents to reach the verdict.
