Special Public Prosecutor Dileep Sathyan said the structuring of Cadell’s sentence was interesting: Alongside life imprisonment, he will have to serve an additional 12 years behind bars — and only then will the life term begin.
Published May 13, 2025 | 2:58 PM ⚊ Updated May 13, 2025 | 2:58 PM
Cadell Jeansen Raja was guilty of murdering his father Raja Thankam, mother Jean Padma, sister Caroline, and aunt Lalitha at their residence in upmarket Baines Compound, Nanthencode, on 5 and 6 April 2017.
Synopsis: A Kerala man accused of familicide was on Tuesday, sentenced to life imprisonment by a trial court. The 2017 crime, which shocked the state, also sparked conversations about the dangers of social isolation within families, the consequences of unresolved emotional conflict, and the need for early psychological intervention.
A Kerala court on Tuesday, 13 May, sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his parents, sister, and aunt in 2017.
The Additional District and Sessions Court VI in Thiruvananthapuram also slapped a fine of ₹15 lakh on Cadell Jeansen Raja, the lone accused. The amount will have to be handed over to Cadell’s uncle, Jose Sundaram, a witness in the case.
The chilling familicide, which unfolded within a short distance of Kerala Chief Minister’s official residence, Cliff House in Thiruvananthapuram, had sent shockwaves through the state.
Judge Vishnu K on Monday, 12 May, found Cadell guilty of murdering his father Raja Thankam, mother Jean Padma, sister Caroline, and aunt Lalitha at their residence in upmarket Baines Compound, Nanthencode, on 5 and 6 April 2017.
Following the murders, he fled to Chennai, only to be apprehended at Thampanoor — Thiruvananthapuram city’s main transit point — on 10 April 2017 upon his return.
More than just a gruesome crime, the Nanthancode case exposed the disturbing undercurrents of a deeply dysfunctional family.
Speaking to reporters after the court pronounced the sentence, Special Public Prosecutor Dileep Sathyan said there was nothing questionable about the verdict.
“Though we had argued for capital punishment, the court is bound by the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court. As we know, specific criteria govern the awarding of a death sentence, and courts often weigh the reformative aspect as well. The fact that the convict is still undergoing treatment at the Mental Health Centre in Thiruvananthapuram might have also influenced the decision,” he noted.
Sathyan added that a decision on whether to challenge the verdict would be taken after discussions with higher officials and upon receiving the full judgment copy.
What makes this judgment particularly interesting, according to the prosecutor, is the structuring of Cadell’s sentence.
“Alongside life imprisonment, Cadell will have to serve an additional 12 years behind bars — and only then will the life term begin,” Sathyam explained.
“First, he must undergo seven years’ rigorous imprisonment for being found guilty under Section 436 IPC (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy a house, etc.). Following that, he will serve another five years under Section 201 IPC for causing the disappearance of evidence and giving false information to screen the offender. This effectively means he is unlikely to step out of prison for the rest of his life — unless the government considers remission,” he said.
On Monday, Sathyan described Cadell’s family as socially isolated, lacking warmth and communication.
He revealed that even within the confines of their home, the family members largely interacted through mobile phone messages — resorting to texting for mundane matters such as asking if someone had eaten.
“The absence of emotional bonding and the reclusive nature of the family created an environment where resentment festered unchecked,” Sathyan noted.
He further pointed out that Cadell harboured longstanding hatred towards his father, whose excessive drinking after retirement strained their relationship.
In a bizarre attempt to deflect responsibility, Cadell initially claimed to have committed the murders while experimenting with ‘astral projection’ — a supposed spiritual phenomenon where consciousness separates from the body. With this he tried to project that he is suffering from mental illness.
However, investigators, aided by forensic experts and psychiatrists, swiftly dismissed this narrative as a calculated ploy to mislead the probe.
Police revealed that deep-seated anger, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy fuelled Cadell’s rage.
A critical breakthrough in the investigation came through the testimony of psychiatrist Dr G Mohan Roy, now Head of the Department of Psychiatry at Government Medical College, Kollam.
The psychiatrist confirmed that there was ample evidence to suggest premeditation, a claim supported by forensic findings.
The police unearthed proof that Cadell meticulously planned the killings, even rehearsing them using life-sized dummies fashioned to resemble his family members.
Digital evidence from his laptop showed he had watched online tutorials on how to slit throats with an axe — the very method he later employed.
Moreover, while in custody, Cadell reportedly confessed to a doctor during treatment following an altercation with a fellow inmate, admitting he bore a grudge against his father.
As much as it was a crime of violence, the Nanthancode case also served as a sobering commentary on the modern fractures in family life and the stigmas surrounding mental health.
It has sparked conversations about the dangers of social isolation within families, the consequences of unresolved emotional conflict, and the need for early psychological intervention.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
