He was killed that he saw an Indian priest and nun having sex three decades later justice is established

Dead nun slippers were scattered on the floor of the monastery's kitchen, one near the entrance, next to the refrigerator. Her white sail was found stuck in the door. An open bottle of water was on the plates. There was an axe in the corner of the room. It was this crime scene described in court documents by officers at St. Pius X in southern India on March 27, 1992.

Later that day, they found Sister Abadaya's body in a nearby well in the Indian monastery, in the town of Kotttayam, Kerala.

A posthumously examination revealed that she had fingerprints on both sides of her neck and two wounds on her head. Her body had multiple wounds and she had a fracture in her skull.

Despite her wounds and the kitchen crime scene, no one was brought to court for the murder of Sister Abhaya for 27 years. But what followed were years of excitement in the investigation.

Finally, last December, the priest and nun were convicted of making great efforts to protect their illicit relations. The court found that Sister Abhaya had walked with them while they were performing a sexual act in the kitchen and killed her to hide their sins. They were sentenced to life imprisonment.

After nearly three decades of fighting for justice, her family has a fundamental question.

What took so long?

The night before the assassination, prosecutors said the priest broke into the monastery's facilities and stayed in the hotel floor room of Sister Sepphy, near the kitchen.

When they realized that the young nun had seen them in a compromising position, the couple hit her in the back of the head with a little axe held in the kitchen, and then threw her body into a well in the hotel premises.

Details of what happened that night came to light only years later, following intense pressure from young activists and nun's family.

The first investigation into the death of Sister Abhaya was opened by the Kottayam West Police Crime Branch on the day her body was found. A year later, she concluded that suicide was the cause of her death.

But Sister Abhaya's father, Matthew Thomas, refused to accept their version of the events and urged CBI, the country's leading investigative agency, to take over the case.

They took her in 1993, but for 12 years they did not accuse anyone of her death. Instead, between 1993 and 2005, The CBI submitted four reports, including three calls for closure, urging the chief Judiciary prosecutor to close the case.

In their first report, they agreed with Kottaiam police that the cause of death was “suicide by drowning”. However, it was rejected by the chief prosecutor and the case reopened.

Their second report, published in 1996, was endless. They could not determine whether it was suicide or murder. Investigators once again demanded that the case be closed. This was rejected once again.

Their third report, published in 1999, said it was a murder but did not specify any suspects. This was rejected as uncomfortable “” by the chief prosecutor.

However, another report was presented in 2005, repeating the issue, as they could not identify any suspects. And once again, she was rejected by the Chief Prosecutor.

Afterward, the investigation was transferred from the CBI New Delhi branch in CBI to the southern town of Cochin in Kerala.

Finally, in 2009. CBI officially accused Father Kottoor and Sister Sephy of murder, as well as another priest, Father Jose Poothrikayil, whom police said was involved in the murder, writes CNN.

The three denied the prosecution, as well as the charges of committing an indecent relationship.

They submitted a request to dismiss the case and it took nine years before a judge ordered Father Kottoor and Sister Sepphy to face trial. The charges against Father Poothrikkeyil were dropped due to lack of evidence.

On August 5, 2019, the trial finally resumed. Prosecutors argued that Father Kottoor and Sister Sepphy made extraordinary efforts to cover their relations and crime.

According to the CBI, Sister Sepphy submitted to the anthem, one day before her arrest in 2008, to make her appear to be still a virgin.

In court, prosecutors accused police officers from the Kottayam West Crime Branch of interfering with evidence and destruction of essential documents for the investigation.

It is reasonable to assume that Father Kottoor had in his control large sources of diocese in terms of money and materials and could command the obedience of priests, nuns and secularists”, the prosecution said.

Father Kottoor denied his guilt. I didn't do anything wrong. God is with me,” he told local journalists as he arrived in court on December 23rd for the sentencing hearing.

His lawyer said the case was fully based on circumstantial evidence. There is no final evidence,” said Father Cottoor's lawyer, B. Sifas.

And there was a delay in the investigation, a delay in finding the accused, there were so many gaps. The court condemned them because the case became a sensation. ”

Sister Abhai's parents died in 2015 before the attackers of their daughters were brought to justice.

I just wish my parents could have been here to see it happen,” said Thomas, Sister Abhaya's brother. “This is all they wanted”.