In a shocking turn of events, Sathish was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of his former girlfriend, Sathya, at St. Thomas Mount railway station in Chennai. The case, which has captured public attention, saw the High Court of Madras change the original death sentence to life in prison with a minimum of 20 years without the possibility of early release.
On October 13, 2022, Sathish pushed Sathya onto the railway tracks at St. Thomas Mount station, leading to her tragic death under an oncoming train. The incident was witnessed by her friend and captured on CCTV, leaving no doubt about what happened.
Sathish and Sathya were college mates and had been in a relationship. However, Sathya's family opposed the match due to Sathish's age, unemployment, and substance abuse issues. Despite the breakup, Sathish continued to bother Sathya, leading to multiple police complaints.
The trial took place at a special court for women's cases in Chennai, where the prosecution presented strong evidence, including CCTV footage and testimonies from witnesses. The court, led by Judges N. Sathish Kumar and M. Jothiraman, found Sathish guilty of murder.
"The accused was following the deceased even after she broke up with him, leading to this tragic event," noted the prosecution.
Initially, the trial court sentenced Sathish to death. However, upon appeal, the High Court considered the possibility of reform and Sathish's lack of prior criminal history. Reports from prison authorities indicated good behavior, leading to the reduction of his sentence to life in prison with a minimum of 20 years.
The crime had devastating effects on Sathya's family, with her father reportedly suffering a heart attack upon hearing the news of her death. The court ordered compensation of ₹10,00,000 from the Tamil Nadu State Government to Sathya's younger sisters.
This case highlights the importance of considering the chance for a person to change when deciding on a sentence. The court emphasized that while the crime was serious, the potential for Sathish to improve himself could not be ignored.
"The punishment should serve as both a warning and a chance for change," stated the judgment.
Sathish's case serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of unchecked emotions and the potential for the justice system to balance punishment with the hope for change.
