Venkat Raju who murdered Roshni Sharma in October 2016 in Ba has been sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment in absentia with a minimum term of 18 years to be served before a pardon can be considered.
It was heard in court that Raju who was 66 years at the time of the incident and Sharma were living in a de facto relationship for some time and before the incident, both were not on talking terms.
Raju continued to live in Sharma’s house despite being told by Sharma to leave her house.
Lautoka High Court Judge, Justice Sunil Sharma says on 19th October 2016, at about 2 am Raju went into the sitting room of the deceased with a pinch bar. The Judge says the deceased was lying down on her side and watching Facebook.
Justice Sharma says Raju struck the deceased on her head about 5 to 6 times and left the house.
It was also heard in court that Roshni Sharma's daughter who was sleeping in another room heard her mother calling her name and when she went into the sitting room she saw her mother lying injured with blood flowing from her wounds. Sharma was taken to the Ba Hospital and then transferred to the Lautoka Hospital where after about two weeks she passed away.
Justice Sharma says this was a cowardly and gruesome attack on a vulnerable, defenceless person who was lying down in the comfort of her sitting room. He says Raju acted out of anger against this unsuspecting victim after Raju was told by Sharma to leave the house.
Justice Sharma says the sentence is to commence from the date Raju is apprehended.
