Greeshma, recently sentenced to capital
punishment for her heinous act in the Sharon murder case, has made history as
the youngest individual in the state to receive the death penalty. This verdict
has garnered significant attention, not only due to her age but also because it
places her among a rare category of female convicts. She is only the third
woman in the state’s history to be awarded capital punishment and the second
woman currently awaiting execution. This case underscores the gravity of the
crime committed, as well as the judicial system's stringent stance on such
offenses. Greeshma’s sentencing has sparked discussions about the severity of
punishments, the role of gender in criminal justice, and the broader
implications of the death penalty in modern society.
Following the conviction in the Sharon
murder case, the number of individuals currently on death row in the state has
now increased to 35. This significant rise reflects the severity of the crimes
and the judicial system's response to them. Justice AM Basheer, who presided
over Greeshma's case and sentenced her to the maximum punishment due to the
particularly brutal and heinous nature of the crime, is no stranger to
delivering high-profile verdicts. Notably, he was also the judge responsible
for the sentencing in the Shanthakumari murder case. His decisions in both
cases highlight his firm stance on holding individuals accountable for extreme
criminal behavior and reflect the state's commitment to upholding the rule of
law in the face of such grave offenses.
Judge A.M. Basheer sentenced the 24-year-old to 10 years of
rigorous imprisonment, along with a fine of Rupees 1 lakh under Section 364
(kidnapping or abducting with the intent to murder). Additionally, the court
imposed a five-year sentence and a fine of Rupees 50,000 under
Section 328 (causing harm to a person by using poison or other harmful
substances), as well as a two-year sentence under Section 203 (destruction of
evidence or providing false information to shield an offender from legal
consequences) of the Indian Penal Code. The Judge also considered
the “diabolic and depraved” nature of Sharon Raj’s murder when determining that
the crime was among the “rarest of the rare” and warranted a death sentence.
In its 586-page judgment, the court praised
the police for conducting a thorough investigation that effectively utilized
scientific evidence. It also concurred with the prosecution’s argument that the
case met the criteria of being “the rarest of the rare”. The court further
dismissed the defense's pleas for leniency towards Greeshma. It emphasized that
her young age could not be considered a mitigating factor in light of the
severity of the crime. Additionally, Greeshma's lack of a criminal history was
deemed irrelevant in this case.
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