SC Commutes Death Sentence of Kerala Man in 2008 Family Murder Case Citing Mental Health, Prison Conduct

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has commuted the death sentence of Reji Kumar, a Kerala man convicted for the 2008 rape and murder of his 12-year-old daughter and the brutal killing of his wife and three other children. While acknowledging the severity of the crime, the court cited the convict’s mental health issues and exemplary conduct in prison over 16 years as mitigating factors.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol, and Sandeep Mehta delivered the judgment on Tuesday, stating that despite the heinous nature of the crime, the death penalty was not justified in this case. “Considering the facts that the convict-appellant had no prior antecedents; good conduct for the past 16-17 years of incarceration; difficulties in mental health and consistent efforts at being a model prisoner, we find that the imposition of death penalty would be unjustified,” the bench stated.

The court, however, made it clear that the convict does not deserve to be released, ordering that he remain behind bars for the rest of his natural life. “He shall spend the remainder of his days in jail, till his last breath, hoping to do acts of penance,” the judges added.

Reji Kumar, a Chemistry graduate and computer diploma holder, worked as an agricultural labourer. During his employment, he began an extramarital affair and suspected his wife Lissy of infidelity, even doubting the paternity of their youngest daughter. The couple had four children aged between 3 and 12. Reji was convicted of raping and murdering his eldest daughter, and killing his wife and three other children over a two-week span.

Both the trial court and the Kerala High Court had earlier confirmed the death sentence, citing the cold, calculated nature of the crimes. However, on appeal, the Supreme Court re-evaluated whether the case fell under the "rarest of rare" category, factoring in psychological assessments and reports from prison and probation officers.

These assessments highlighted Reji’s unblemished prison record and his background of mental health challenges, including parental neglect, substance dependence, and prior physical and sexual abuse, which the court said contributed to his psychological state.

The court’s decision reflects a nuanced balance between justice for the victims and consideration of the convict's mental condition and rehabilitation potential.