News

Life term for watchman convicted in killing of Mumbai lawyer Pallavi

by IBNS 07 Jul 2014, 11:36 am

Mumbai, July 7 (IBNS) A sessions court in Mumbai on Monday pronounced life term for a city watchman of an apartment who killed a young woman lawyer, Pallavi Purkayastha, in August 2012, after trying to rape her.

The court held him guilty on June 30 but pronounced the quantum of punishment on Monday, amid demand for a death penalty.

Sajjad Ahmed Pathan, who was a watchman in the apartment building Himalayan Heights, was found guilty of killing 25-year-old Pallavi inside her apartment on Aug 9, 2012. Pathan was stalking Pallavi and on the fateful night tried to rape her after breaking in, and when she resisted, he killed her by slitting her throat with a knife.

Pathan was arrested before he could flee to Jammu and Kashmir from where he hailed. Pathan was angry since Pallavi had protested his advancement and staring and stalking.

Pathan had stolen the flat key of Pallavi by switching off the power to the flat and later entered her room.

Pathan was also convicted of molestation, attempt to rape and trespass.

The family of the victim wanted death sentence for the convict.

"He should be sentenced to death. I want death penalty for him," said the mother of Pallavi on June 30 after the conviction of Pathan.

Pallavi used to stay in the apartment with his fiance, Avik Sengupta. Avik died of an illness on Nov last year. He was suffering from depression since the crime, said some media reports.

"He [Pathan] devastated two families. He should be sentenced to death only," said father of Pallavi.