He was against her illicit affairs - one of the reasons that Jolly Joseph allegedly poisoned her first husband Roy Thomas. This is according to the police custody report filed earlier today, when the accused was presented in the Thamarassery court in the Kozhikode district of Kerala.
The other three reasons detailed for the alleged poisoning included Roy being an alcoholic, lack of a steady income and disbelief in superstitions. So, apparently her motive to kill him was not just money.
In the custody application, police had also explained that the killings were made with the knowledge and assistance of the two others accused in the case, KM Mathew alias Shaji (44) and P Prajukumar (48).
The three accused were presented in court this morning (October 10).
And, they were remanded to police custody for the next six days, till October 16.
While Mathew's lawyer did not object to the defendants being remanded to police custody, he opposed the initial police request of an 11-day custody period. The court granted only six days.
An advocate from the team of BA Aloor, who will be defending the prime accused, Jolly Joseph, signed the vakalatnama, a document that gives authority to a lawyer to act for and on behalf of his client.
The court asked the three defendants if there was any problem with being placed in police custody. While Mathew replied 'no', Prajukumar and Jolly apparently only bowed and shook their heads to indicate a similar response.
According to a Gulf News source: “Mathew and Jolly remained silent in the courtroom, while Prajukumar looked devastated. A large crowd was present outside the court for news on the alleged culprits. When the vehicles arrived with the defendants, people gathered reacted in anger, booing at Jolly and Mathew.”
There was heavy security in and around the courthouse due to fear of public anger.
With Jolly Joseph being placed in police custody, the investigation has been intensified. Kerala media reported that the ten-member police investigation team has been expanded to a 35-member team.
Before the court proceedings, the accused who were in judicial custody were kept at the Kozhikode district jail for the day. Jolly and Prajukumar were in the district jail, while Mathew was in the sub-jail.
When being escorted out of the court, media present on the premises asked Jolly Joseph, if she had anything to say. She refused to respond. Meanwhile, the third accused Prajukumar told the media before getting into the police jeep that Mathew had bought cyanide from him to kill mice.
