A Dhaka tribunal on Sunday sentenced prime accused Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Khatun to death in the case filed over the rape and murder of eight-year-old Ramisa Akter in the city’s Pallabi area.
Judge Masrur Salekin of the Dhaka Metropolitan Children Violence Suppression Tribunal delivered the verdict, said Special Public Prosecutor Azizur Rahman Dulu.
The judge stated that the evidence established that the victim had been raped before being killed.
Sohel Rana confessed to his involvement in the rape and murder, he said, adding that Swapna is guilty of the same crime as Sohel Rana as she helped her husband flee after the incident.
Both the convicts were present in the dock when the judge pronounced the verdict.
The judgement in the sensational case was delivered in just 19 days following the incident, which sparked widespread outrage and prompted the government to pledge quick justice.
On May 21, two days after the murder, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visited the house of Ramisa Akter and consoled the family.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit, had said efforts would be made to complete the trial proceedings as quickly as possible and ensure the highest punishment for the accused.
Earlier, on June 4, the tribunal fixed Sunday for delivering the verdict in the case on the completion of arguments from both the prosecution and the defence.
Before that, on June 3, the tribunal heard self-defence statements from the two accused after the testimony phase in the case concluded within a single day on June 2.
Out of 18 witnesses, 16 made their depositions against Sohel Rana and his wife Swapna Khatun before the tribunal.
State-appointed defence counsel Musa Kalimullah cross-examined the witnesses.
Ramisa’s father Abdul Mannan Molla, who is also the plaintiff of the case, was the first to make his deposition, followed by her mother, elder sister and others.
In their depositions, the victim’s father and mother recounted the horrifying sequence of events that took place on May 19.
On June 1, the tribunal framed charges against the two accused in the case.
Before that, on May 24, investigation officer of the case – Sub-Inspector Ohiduzzaman of Pallabi Police Station – submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Court of Dhaka. Later, the case was transferred to the tribunal.
Ramisa Akter was raped and murdered by Sohel Rana, a tenant of a neighbouring flat on the 2nd floor of the building, on May 19.
According to the case details, Sohel Rana lured her into his room and later killed her after rape.
Ramisa’s decapitated body was found beneath the bed while her severed head was found inside a bucket in the bathroom.
While Swapna Khatun was detained from the scene, Sohel Rana managed to escape by cutting through a window grille.
He was tracked down and arrested by police later in Fatullah of Narayanganj.