Goa court awards death penalty for murdering a doctor

A local court here today awarded death penalty to Ryan Fernandes, who was convicted for murdering his father-in-law and prominent physician of Vasco, Dr. Shrikant Verenkar.

Margao (Goa), June 16 : A local court here today awarded death penalty to Ryan Fernandes, who was convicted for murdering his father-in-law and prominent physician of Vasco, Dr. Shrikant Verenkar.

The court also awarded life imprisonment to Ryan's three other accomplice- Francis D'Sa, Sachin Parab and Rajan Singh.

The fifth person accused in the case Pratam Gadgakar was granted pardon by the court after he volunteered to become approver for the State in the case.

Session Judge Nutan Sardesai pronounced the order in a packed-court room, ending the two-year old trial of the startling case that rocked the State in early 2005.

After the pronouncement of the sentence, public prosecutor Sarojini Sardinha praised the police for their commendable work in proving the 'ghastly crime'.

On January 17, 2005, Dr. Shrikant Verenkar was abducted and his body was later found on the Cansaulim hillock near Remet Hill.

The convicts had killed the doctor by smothering his neck before dumping his body.

The murder had sent shock waves across the port town of Vasco with angry residents taking to the streets.

ANI