Alappuzha Additional Sessions Court (3) Judge M. Suhaib has sentenced Frilly Francis to life imprisonment for the brutal murder of an 80-year-old retired teacher 16 years ago. The court also ordered Frilly, a resident of Manjalikadu in Pathirappally, to pay a fine of ₹50,000 for committing the murder to steal gold ornaments.
The tragic incident took place on August 12, 2010, inside the home of Eliyamma Sebastian, affectionately known as Chinnamma, in Thumpoly Alakkattussery. Eliyamma was living alone as her husband and four children were abroad. At the time of the crime, Frilly, who was a neighbor and relative of the victim, was just 23 years old. The horrific crime was discovered by Eliyamma’s domestic worker, who returned home to find the elderly woman lying in a pool of blood.
Following the murder, Frilly orchestrated a dramatic cover-up to mislead both local residents and law enforcement officials. She spread false rumors claiming she saw Tamil nomads running away from Eliyamma’s house. Based on her misleading statements, the police even created and released a sketch of a nomad woman to pursue the lead. However, when no locals corroborated seeing anyone matching that description, investigators grew suspicious of Frilly’s story and shifted their focus directly onto her.
According to the prosecution’s case, Frilly approached Eliyamma while she was sitting on her front veranda and persuaded her to step inside the house. Once inside, Frilly threw chili powder into the elderly woman’s face, pushed her to the floor, and brutally slashed her neck and wrists with a sharp knife. After killing Eliyamma, Frilly stole the gold chain and bangles the victim was wearing and fled the scene.
A major breakthrough in the investigation came when police discovered that Frilly had exchanged old gold for new jewelry at a prominent shop in Alappuzha. When questioned by her family about the new ornaments, she gave conflicting explanations. During detailed police interrogation, Frilly confessed to the crime, leading officers to a private financial institution in Pathirappally where she had pledged a portion of Eliyamma’s gold. The remaining stolen jewelry and cash obtained from the pledge were subsequently recovered from Frilly’s residence.
The court found the accused guilty under four major charges: murder, robbery, trespass, and housebreaking with criminal intent. For the murder conviction, she received life imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine. She was additionally sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹10,000 fine for robbery, ten years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹10,000 fine for trespass, and three years of rigorous imprisonment with a ₹5,000 fine for criminal housebreaking. All sentences will run concurrently. Additional Public Prosecutor N.B. Shari represented the prosecution in court.
