Man who killed 5 family members has death sentence reduced to life without remission

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-07-17 15:18:44 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-07-17 21:15:57

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Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Singapore commuted the death sentence of Thippaiah to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder of 5 family members.

The crime occurred on February 25, 2017, when convict Thippaiah, suspecting his wife of infidelity, attacked and killed his wife, her sister, and three children before attempting to commit suicide by slitting his own throat.

Thippaiah was charged with murder for the killing of his wife, Kaliammal, and the murder of his sister-in-law and niece. He was also charged with the murder of his two nephews aged 6 and 7.

The verdict was reached after a 33-day trial in the High Court in 2020, and Thippaiah was sentenced to death.

On Wednesday, the apex court ruled that Thippaiah would serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the remainder of his life.

Justice Choo Han Teck, who delivered the court's judgment, stated that Thippaiah's actions were "intentional, deliberate, and ruthless," but ultimately ruled that the penalty of death could not be warranted as the threshold had not been met.

This decision comes after recent calls for reform to Singapore's mandatory death penalty.

"Life should mean life, and Parole should mean Parole. There should be no exceptions," said Lucy Mirigian, director of Debt Prisoners' Assistance Network.

"When the court decides to impose a life sentence, it must specify the minimum term a prisoner must serve before becoming eligible for parole. This should then be subject to government oversight and approval," she added.

The verdict was reached after extensive reviews of the case, including psychiatric reports and psychological evaluations to understand better Thippaiah's state of mind at the time of the crimes.

While the court acknowledged that Thippaiah suffered from a depressive disorder, it emphasized that his mental state had not risen to the level of a defense.

This judgement marks a pivotal moment in Singapore's history regarding its stance on capital punishment.

"Today's judgment is a significant step towards a more humane justice system in Singapore," said Priscillia Kuek, a prominent human rights lawyer. "But let's not forget that it's also a result of a tragic tragedy for the victims' families, who will now face the prospect of many years without their loved ones."

Thippaiah will serve a life sentence without the possibility of parole at the President's pleasure.

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