---
title: "Final Witness Testifies as Koodathayi Serial Murder Trial Enters Decisive Phase"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/final-witness-testifies-as-koodathayi-serial-murder-trial-enters-decisive-phase-dmqxi
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: India
published: 2026-07-31T13:58:00.000Z
modified: 2026-07-31T16:01:04.634Z
language: en-IN
---

# Final Witness Testifies as Koodathayi Serial Murder Trial Enters Decisive Phase

Investigating officer R. Haridasan provided critical testimony against Jolly Joseph in the Roy Thomas murder case. This trial marks the first of six alleged cyanide poisonings to reach a potential verdict.

## Key takeaways

- Lead investigator R. Haridasan testified as the final witness in the Roy Thomas murder case on July 31, 2026.
- Jolly Joseph is accused of killing six family members using cyanide between 2002 and 2016 to inherit property.
- The prosecution produced 130 witnesses and 235 documents during a trial that faced several procedural delays since 2023.
- Roy Thomas was the only victim whose death was initially verified as cyanide poisoning through a contemporaneous autopsy.
- A verdict in this first case is expected to set a precedent for the remaining five murder trials involving the same defendants.

## Investigating Officer Takes the Stand

The Kozhikode Special Additional Sessions Court commenced the final phase of the Roy Thomas murder trial on July 31, 2026. Deputy Superintendent of Police R. Haridasan, the lead investigator who headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), appeared as the final prosecution witness. Despite experiencing physical discomfort from fluctuating blood sugar levels, Haridasan provided formal evidence to support the state's case against Jolly Joseph and her co-accused. Proceedings under Special Public Prosecutor N.K. Unnikrishnan are scheduled to continue through August 1, 2026.

## A Decade of Suspected Poisonings

The investigation centers on the death of Roy Thomas in 2011, the only victim of the six whose body underwent a post-mortem at the time of death. That autopsy confirmed cyanide poisoning, forming the cornerstone of the prosecution's forensic evidence. The state alleges that Jolly Joseph systematically eliminated six family members between 2002 and 2016 to secure control over family assets. The victims included:
- Annamma Thomas (2002): Her mother-in-law and a retired teacher.
- Tom Thomas (2008): Her father-in-law.
- Roy Thomas (2011): Her husband.
- Mathew Manchadiyil (2014): Annamma's brother.
- Alphine (2016): The young daughter of Jolly’s second husband, Shaju Zachariya.
- Sily (2016): Shaju Zachariya’s first wife.

## Procedural Milestones and Legal Obstacles

The case remained dormant for years until Rojo Thomas, Roy's brother, filed a complaint in 2019 with then-SP K.G. Simon, prompting the exhumation of remains and the eventual arrest of Joseph on October 5, 2019. The resulting 8,000-page chargesheet led to a trial that officially began on March 8, 2023. While the SIT identified 270 potential witnesses, the prosecution ultimately examined 130 individuals and submitted 235 documents and 23 material objects. Recent testimony included O.P. Abdurahman, who helped investigators track the cyanide source.

### Status of the Accused

Jolly Joseph remains incarcerated in the Kannur women’s prison following a Supreme Court bail denial. Second accused M.S. Mathew continues to be held in judicial custody, while the third accused, a goldsmith named Prajikumar, is currently out on bail. As the court prepares to close the evidence phase, a judgment in the Roy Thomas case is anticipated within weeks, a verdict that will likely influence the five remaining murder trials linked to this family tragedy.

Source: The Hindu — National

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Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/final-witness-testifies-as-koodathayi-serial-murder-trial-enters-decisive-phase-dmqxi
Reported from: The Hindu — National