Thiruvananthapuram: After giving up thrice on the sister Abhaya murder case, the CBI on Tuesday told the Ernakulam chief judicial magistrates court that there was ample evidence to prove that the nun was killed by father Thomas Kottoor, father Jose Puthrukkayil and sister Sephi - now in judicial custody - at the Pius X Convent, Kottayam.
The CBI submitted that the victim had seen the three accused near the convents kitchen in the wee hours of March 27,1992. Embarrassed, the priests attacked 21-year-old Abhaya with a blunt weapon and dumped her body in the well at the premises. CBI has apparently recorded statements of an eyewitness before the court. The trio will be in CBI custody for interrogation till Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the court has brushed aside the accused allegations of harassment during custodial interrogation. Sister Sephi alleged she was made to undergo a virginity test against her will. All the accused, together with the police officer who prepared the original inquest, had undergone truth serum tests in Bangalore in August 2007.
CBI got a breakthrough from the statement of Sanju P Mathew, whose house adjoins the crime scene. Sanju told the interrogators he saw father Kottoors bike at the convent on the night of the crime. CBI has also got hold of a petty thief who claims to have seen the murder.
