A Three-Year-Old’s Testimony Leads to Swift Justice in Karnataka Murder Case

In a rare and compelling case, a 3.5-year-old child’s courtroom identification of his father as his mother’s murderer led to a remarkably swift conviction in Chitradurga, Karnataka. The trial, completed in just 13 days, highlighted the power of direct eyewitness testimony, even from a extremely young witness.

The Crime and Initial Investigation

On the night of June 27, 2018, Sakamma, a woman in her late twenties, was attacked with a heavy stone while sleeping on the floor with her two young sons, Dhanush (three-and-a-half years old) and Mailari (one-and-a-half years old), in Baggalu Rangavvanahalli village. Her sister, Y Manjula, was alerted by cries and discovered Sakamma gravely injured. Sakamma’s husband, Sridhara, was not present at the scene.

Police quickly registered a case and collected evidence, including the bloodstained stone and bedding. Forensic analysis confirmed the blood belonged to Sakamma. Villagers reported seeing Sridhara fleeing the house around 3 am. Sridhara was later found to have consumed a slight quantity of poison and was taken into custody after treatment. He allegedly provided a voluntary statement and led officers to a bloodstained shirt that matched Sakamma’s blood type.

Post-mortem findings confirmed Sakamma died from head injuries caused by repeated assault.

A Child’s Testimony

The case gained significant attention due to the crucial role of Dhanush, the elder son, as a key witness. Before trial, the court assessed Dhanush’s understanding of truth and falsehood, confirming his ability to provide voluntary evidence. During the trial, Dhanush identified Sridhara as the attacker. In a particularly poignant moment, he emotionally asked his father, “Why have you killed my mother?”

Police Inspector T M Shivakumar, who was involved in the initial investigation, recounted that Dhanush was able to narrate the sequence of events after gaining his trust. “He was awake when Sakamma was assaulted, and every small detail was registered in his head,” Shivakumar stated.

The defense argued that Dhanush had been coached by his aunt, Manjula, but the court rejected this claim, citing the boy’s spontaneous emotional reaction and detailed account, corroborated by other family members.

Swift Justice and Upholding the Conviction

The prosecution built its case on the forensic evidence, Sridhara’s conduct, and Dhanush’s testimony. Sridhara denied the charges but offered no alternative explanation for his wife’s injuries.

On July 9, 2018, the Chitradurga district principal and sessions court convicted Sridhara of murder and cruelty. Judge S B Vastramath noted Dhanush’s clear identification of his father as the perpetrator. The judge too urged Sridhara to be a good father to his children upon his release from jail.

Sridhara appealed the conviction to the Karnataka High Court, but on February 4, 2026, the appeal was dismissed. The High Court affirmed that the child witness’s testimony, deemed reliable and untutored, could serve as the basis for a conviction, especially when corroborated by circumstantial and forensic evidence. Additional State Public Prosecutor Pushpalatha B argued that the child’s testimony was compelling and credible, and that all 22 prosecution witnesses had provided consistent accounts.

Aftermath and Current Status

Dhanush and his brother are now being raised by their grandparents. Manjula stated that the children have not asked to spot their father.