Life Sentences for Three in 2021 Bantwal Taluk Elderly Homicide and Robbery Case
A Mangaluru court sentenced three individuals, including a caretaker, to life imprisonment for the 2021 murder of 72-year-old Benedicta Karlo. The defendants were convicted of strangulation and the theft of jewelry valued at ₹2.75 lakh.
Judicial Verdict and Sentencing
Second Additional District and Sessions Judge Jagadeesh V.N. delivered a life sentence on Tuesday to Elma Preschith Baretto, Charan Kumar, and Satheesha A. R. following their conviction for the murder of Benedicta Karlo. The court found the defendants guilty under Indian Penal Code Sections 302, 120-B, and 34. Alongside the life terms, the judge ordered each individual to pay a fine of ₹5,000, with a one-year simple imprisonment penalty for default. All sentences, including those for robbery and evidence destruction, will run concurrently.
Details of the Conspiracy and Execution
The prosecution established that the crime originated from greed. Elma Preschith Baretto, who served as the caretaker for the 72-year-old victim and her bed-ridden 80-year-old husband, Hinas Karlo, sought to possess the elderly woman’s jewelry. Before the fatal encounter, Baretto attempted to use a toxic substance provided by Satheesha to poison Ms. Karlo, though this effort failed. On January 25, 2021, the plan escalated when Baretto arrived at the Ammunje village residence on a motorcycle operated by Charan Kumar. The attackers smothered Ms. Karlo to death before escaping with ornaments valued at ₹2.75 lakh.
Police Investigation and Trial History
Bantwal Rural police officers apprehended the suspects and successfully recovered the stolen items. Police Inspector T.D. Nagaraj led the investigation and filed the formal chargesheet. The case against the trio relied on the following evidentiary points:
- Recovery of the stolen ₹2.75 lakh worth of ornaments.
- Disposal of the remaining poisonous substance in a roadside drain near the crime scene.
- Testimony from 32 witnesses examined by Prosecutor Jyoti Pramod Nayak between June 2025 and May 2026.
In addition to the murder conviction, the court handed down a six-year sentence and a ₹5,000 fine for robbery under Section 392, and one year of imprisonment with a ₹1,000 fine for the destruction of evidence under Section 201.
Source: The Hindu — Cities
