Kozhikode: The probe into the mysterious deaths of six members of a family at Koodathayi in Kerala's Kozhikode district and the subsequent arrest of Jolly Joseph seem to have opened a pandora's box of suspicious deaths. More murder and attempt to murder allegations are being raised against prime suspect Jolly.
Relatives have raised doubts over the death of two more youths from the Ponnamattom family - Suneesh, 28; and Vincent (Unni, 24). They were the nephews of Tom Thomas, Jolly's father-in-law. Six people, including Tom, his wife Annamma, his son and Jolly’s husband Roy Thomas, died from the family in a span of 14 years.
Vincent, son of Tom’s brother Ponnamattom Augustine, was found dead at his house in Kodencherry on August 24, 2002. He was suspected to have killed himself, two days after the death of Tom's wife Annamma.
Suneesh, son of Tom’s another brother Dominic, died in a bike accident near Kuranganpara at Kodencherry around 9pm on January 15, 2008. Relatives had later recovered Suneesh's diary. He scribbled Jolly's name in several pages and also wrote that 'he had been cheated'. Tom Thomas had died under mysterious circumstances in August that year.
Suneesh's mother Elsamma recollected that the duo had financial dealing with Jolly. "After Annamma's death, Vincent and Suneesh were found talking late into the night. While we were returning after Annamma's funeral, we came to know of Vincent's death. Suneesh then said that instead of going to the church, if he had been with Vincent, he would not have died. Though the dead body was found in a kneeling position, no proper investigation was held,” she explained.
Elsamma also said that Suneesh had taken money from several people and had a debt of Rs 10 lakh. After his death, the debt was paid off by selling 41 cents of land.
“Suneesh died in a bike accident at Kuranganpara, which is 3km away from the house. It was said that the bike had toppled and his head had hit the stones. Allegations were then raised that someone had hit him on the head. One of the relatives also said that 'nothing will happen without the knowledge of Jolly.' However, we did not take it seriously then,” she recollected.
Probe into attempt to kill girl children
Police have said that they would also probe whether Jolly had tried to kill girl children.
"Our priority is to probe the six murders. Other investigations would also be held parallel to it," Kozhikode rural SP K G Simon said.
The police had received information that Jolly had tried to kill the daughter of her first husband Roy's sister Renji, revenue official Jayasree's daughter, and the little girl of Roy's relative Martin. The statements of their relatives were also taken.
After the Koodathayi serial killings became public, relatives of two other girl children also approached the police. One of the girls is abroad.
Revenue official questioned
Jolly has also been accused of forging a fake will to take over the property of her first husband’s family. The police are probing whether revenue official Jayasree – who is now working as land tribunal tehsildar - had helped Jolly to forge the fake will. ADM Roshni Narayanan on Wednesday recorded Jayasree's statement. Jayasree was the Thamarassery deputy tahsildar at the time of the incident.
