MUMBAI: A 52-year-old unemployed man was recently convicted and sentenced to life term by a sessions court for the murder of his 80-year-old mother in 2018 over frequent quarrels caused by his inability to pay her medical bills.
The evidence showed that the accused, Yogesh Shenoy, made three attempts to kill his mother, Lalita—he first gave her milk laced with 30 sleeping pills, used a pillow to smother her when she did not die, and then used a paper cutter to cut her throat. He remained in the room till the next morning, after which he called police.
Judge M Mohiuddin M A noted that Shenoy failed to explain how Lalita sustained the injuries and "whatever the explanation he tried, appears to be false".
The judge rejected the defence's claim that Shenoy himself called police and informed them that some unknown person had murdered his mother. "...the conduct of the accused is not natural because if any such incident had happened, he would have first made a hue and cry, would have shouted for help, and would have informed neighbours and called them for help. He would have first tried to save his mother... would have taken [her] to hospital," the judge observed. The court noted that Shenoy was the only one present with Lalita during the night.
Shenoy, an out-of-work accountant, and Lalita lived in a chawl in Dahisar. His father and his brother had died. His wife left him in 2011, which left him depressed. He could not foot his mother's escalating medical bills and the two fought frequently.
A neighbour deposed that he led police to their home on Nov 29, 2018, and saw Lalita on a cot and Shenoy sitting in a chair. The witness said Shenoy told him he killed his mother because of domestic quarrels. Another witness, the landlord's daughter, said she had intervened in disputes between the two in the past. She said on the day of the arrest, Shenoy admitted to the killing, citing his mother's illness and lack of activity as reasons for his frustration. Forensic reports confirmed human blood on the weapon and on Shenoy's clothes.
Legal Aid's Shashikant Chandak was Shenoy's counsel and public prosecutor P S Rathod represented the state.
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Armed with a degree in political science and law, Rebecca Samerve...
Read MoreArmed with a degree in political science and law, Rebecca Samervel waltzed into journalism after a brief stint in modeling. As a reporter at The Times of India, Mumbai, she covers courts. She is a self-confessed food-a-holic. Travelling, politics and television are her passions. If you want to find her during the week the only place to look is the Bombay high court.
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