A CBI special court on Wednesday sentenced to life imprisonment the catholic priest and nun, who were found guilty of the murder of Sister Abhaya 28 years ago in Kottayam.
Special CBI Judge K Sanal Kumar pronounced the sentence against two accused-- Father Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy, and slapped a fine of ₹5 lakh on each of them.
The court had on Tuesday found the two guilty of the murder of Sister Abhaya, who was found dead in a well in St Pius Convent in Kottayam in 1992.
The duo was also sentenced to seven years imprisonment for tampering with evidence.
The sentences will run concurrently.
While pronouncing the verdict on Tuesday, the court had said the murder charges against the two accused will stand.
The Special Court had said the accused were guilty of murder in the case under sections 302 (punishment for murder) and 201 (tamperingof evidence) of the Indian Penal Code.
Unbelievable but accepts verdict, says church
The Knanaya Catholic Church on Wednesday termed as 'unbelievable', the allegations against its priest and a nun, convicted of murder by a CBI court in the Sister Abhaya case, as it said they have the right to go for an appeal and prove their 'innocence.' The Kottayam diocese of the church, however, said it accepted the verdict of the court, which on Wednesday sentenced Fr Thomas Kottoor and Sister Sephy to life imprisonment, 28 years after Abhaya, an inmate of the church convent, was found dead under mysterious circumstances "The death of sister Abhaya was sad and unfortunate.
The allegations against them are unbelievable. However, we accept the court order.
The accused persons have the right to go for an appeal against the order and prove their innocence," the archdiocese said in a statement.
The archdiocese also said it was "sad and sorry over such developments." The court had on Tuesday found the two guilty of the murder of Sister Abhaya, who was found dead in a well in St Pius convent in Kottayam in 1992.
Expressing happiness over the judgement, Sister Abhaya Action Council convenor Jomon Puthenpurackal said he would not rest until the appeals to be filed by the convicts are rejected by the higher courts.