Kerala: Jolly Joseph poisoned a two-year-old by giving her a piece of bread laced with cyanide in 2014, according to the Kerala police. The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Koodathayi serial murder case, on Monday, recorded the formal arrest of Jolly, the prime accused in connection with the death of Alphine, the fifth victim in the serial murders.
Alphine was the daughter of Jolly's second husband Shaju and his first wife Sili. She was the last victim in the Koodathayi serial murder case. After the child consumed the piece of bread that had cyanide on it, she was taken to a hospital where she died two days later.
Crucial evidence
A substance obtained from the dashboard of Jolly's car had earlier been sent to a lab. According to the police, as suspected, this week's test reports confirmed that the substance was cyanide.
"This is crucial evidence for the police to submit in the court," said a Gulf News source close to the ongoing investigation.
Bank Raid
Manojkumar T. T. Koodathayi, a member of the local Omasserry Gram Panchayat told Gulf News that the police raided the Ommassery Karannur service cooperative bank's, Koodathayi branch on Monday, October 28.
He added: "Jolly had mortgaged Sili's 30 pavan (237 grams) of gold in this bank. Out of this, she had given eight pavan (around 63 grams) to BSNL employee Johnson. When Johnson was interrogated, he said that the gold was kept in this bank."
Manojkumar also said: "Jolly's financial dealings were done using this bank. Local politician Imbichi Moideen was the director of this bank."
What's next?
Police have so far recorded the arrest of Jolly in three of the six murder cases in the Ponnamattom family.
The police team moved a custody application to record the arrest of Jolly in connection with the death of Mathew Manchadi, the fourth victim in the case in the Thamarassery judicial first class magistrate court on Tuesday. He was the uncle of Jolly's first husband and apparently an accomplice in the killing of her first husband.
A Gulf News source said: "The police are investigating the case starting with the most recent murders first. Since it will be easier to obtain more recent evidence to streamline and quicken the investigation."
Indian media reports said that Sili's brother Sijo and his sister Smita have testified against Jolly.
Meanwhile, Vadakara Coastal Inspector BK Siju questioned MM Mathew, the second accused in connection with Sili's murder. Mathew was remanded to police custody. Police had found that MM Mathew was the one to hand cyanide to Jolly. who used it in her killings.
Perambra Inspector KK Biju conducted raids at various locations in connection with the murder case of Jolly's first husband Roy Mathew's mother Annamma. The police have also recorded statements from some residents in the area.
And, Deputy Collector C Biju, of the revenue department investigating the involvement of Deputy Tehsildar (village revenue and tax officer) Jaisree and others in manipulating records to support Jolly, has already submitted the first report to the court.
