Death sentence for killer of young siblings

He also handed down three years rigorous imprisonment to Manoharan for abduction.

According to the prosecution,the man along with his friend and key accused,shot dead by police in alleged encounter,had killed a ten-year-old girl and her seven-year-old brother after kidnapping them and raping the girl on October 29,2010.

The deceased accused Mohanakrishnan was the former van driver of the children.

The judge had on October 29 convicted Manoharan under sections of IPC 20 B (conspiracy),364 A (abduction for ransom),376 (2) (f) (g)(gang rape and rape of girl less than 12-years-old),302 (murder) and 201 (concealment of evidence) and fixed today for pronouncement of the sentence.

The brutal murder of Muskan and her brother Rithik,children of a textile merchant,had sent shock waves in the city.

The duo had allegedly raped and murdered the girl and also her brother as he was a witness to the crime. They later threw the bodies in a canal near Pollachi.

Mohanraj was arrested on the same day,Manoharan was taken into custody two days later.

Mohanraj was shot dead by police on November 8,2010 in a vehicle while he was being taken to the scene of crime after he allegedly tried to snatch the pistol of an escort inspector in a bid to escape.