In a landmark judgment, the Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Court VI on Tuesday sentenced Cadell Jeansen Raja to life imprisonment for the brutal killings of his family members in the chilling Nanthancode multiple homicide case. The accused was found guilty of murdering his father, mother, sister, and aunt in April 2017.
Delivering the verdict, Judge Vishnu K convicted Cadell under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 302 (murder), Section 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and Section 436 (mischief by fire with intent to destroy a house).
Apart from the life term for murder, the Court also sentenced him to:
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Five years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh under Section 201 IPC.
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Seven years of imprisonment with a fine of ₹2 lakh under Section 436 IPC.
The Court imposed a total fine of ₹15 lakh, out of which ₹12 lakh will serve as compensation to the families of the four victims—₹3 lakh each.
The case, one of Kerala’s most disturbing multiple murders, came to light on April 9, 2017, when police found the mutilated and partially burnt bodies of Raja Thankam (retired professor), Dr. Jean Padma (retired doctor), their daughter Caroline, and Padma’s sister Lalitha at their Nanthancode residence. Forensic investigations later revealed the use of a carpenter’s axe, purchased online by Cadell, to carry out the killings.
Cadell initially denied involvement, claiming he was in Chennai during the incident. Later, he attempted to mislead investigators by stating the murders were part of an “astral projection experiment” in which he claimed to have detached his soul from his body. However, psychiatric assessments concluded he was of sound mind and his behaviour was a calculated effort to evade legal consequences.
The prosecution, led by Public Prosecutor Dileep Sathyan, presented strong forensic and circumstantial evidence. Blood and petrol traces on Cadell’s clothing, CCTV footage, digital footprints, and witness testimonies all pointed to premeditated intent. Evidence also revealed that Cadell had researched axe murders and purchased cleaning supplies prior to the incident.
Cadell was represented by Advocate Koottappu U Mujeeb during the trial.
This verdict brings long-awaited justice in a case that shocked the state with its brutality and bizarre justifications.
