Truth Revealed After 28 Years: Indian Nun Murdered Following Witnessing Sexual Act

Embarrassing Act Witnessed... Attacked with an Axe, Thrown into a Well
Police: "Witness Changed Testimony, Evidence Destroyed, Investigation Obstructed"
Defendant's Side Claims "Victim Committed Suicide"
Human Rights Activist: "Church Authorities Tried to Alter the Case"

A priest and a nun in India sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. Photo by The New Indian Express.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] In India, a priest and a nun have been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. They are finally paying the price 28 years after the nun's body was found in a well at an Indian church.

According to media outlets including the Times of India on the 24th, an Indian court sentenced Catholic priest Thomas Kotur (71) and nun Sepi (57) to life imprisonment for murder and evidence tampering yesterday.

Previously, on March 27, 1992, Sister Sur Abaya (21) was found dead in the church well where the perpetrators had been frequenting.

The police investigating the case at the time concluded it was either suicide or murder, and they attempted to close the case without tracking down the culprits. However, the court refused to close the case and ordered further investigation.

After continuous investigations involving witnesses changing their statements, evidence tampering, and obstruction of the investigation, the culprits were finally caught after 28 years of twists and turns.

According to the Central Bureau of Investigation, on the day of the incident, Sister Abaya came down the stairs of the convent building dormitory to fetch water and headed toward the kitchen refrigerator. During this process, she witnessed Priest Kotur and Sister Sepi engaged in an indecent act.

Subsequently, Sister Sepi killed Sister Abaya with an axe, and the priest and Sister Sepi together disposed of the body in the well.

The court accepted these investigation results.

Sister Abaya, who was murdered (left), and the defendants (right). Photo by Free Press.

In 2008, the police indicted not only Sister Sepi and Priest Kotur but also another priest named Jose Putrikail. It was believed that the three engaged in sexual acts together and jointly disposed of the body.

However, the court acquitted Priest Jose in 2018 due to lack of evidence.

The prosecution stated, "This is the first case in Indian history where a priest and a nun murdered another nun," and sought the death penalty.

The defense argued that "the victim, Sister Abaya, had mental health issues and took her own life."

Both defendants claimed innocence in court and appealed to their poor health conditions, including cancer and diabetes. They are reported to be planning to appeal the life sentence.

The victim nun’s younger brother said after the court ruling, "Everything is thanks to God," and in an interview with Dubai News, he said, "When the autopsy was done, it was written that there was only 375ml of water in her stomach. That’s when suspicion arose."

Also, the victim nun’s father and mother had already passed away before the trial began.

Human rights activist Jomun Puchenpurakal, who has been working to uncover the truth of the case, said, "It took decades to reach a verdict," and added, "Influential groups, including church authorities, tried to change the direction of the case."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.