AIZAWL: A district court in Mizoram handed down a 10-year prison sentence to a 38-year-old woman for the murder of her 13-year-old niece on Thursday. Champhai district additional and sessions judge Sylvie Zomuanpuii Ralte delivered the verdict and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on the convicted woman, Chingsianzovi.
Chingsianzovi’s sentence comes with an additional year of imprisonment if she fails to pay the imposed fine, according to court officials.
The incident unfolded in February 2022 when Chingsianzovi, from Khawzawl town in east Mizoram, strangled her niece, Catherine T. Biaksiami, to death while the two were on a camping trip to collect firewood at a farmhouse.
Trouble began when Chingsianzovi asked Catherine to gather firewood during the day. An argument ensued, fuelled by Chingsianzovi’s displeasure with her niece’s wood collection efforts. In a fit of rage, Chingsianzovi choked Catherine to death with the help of a ‘Hnam’, a traditional strap used for carrying loads.
Initially, Chingsianzovi denied her involvement, claiming that an unidentified man had attempted to kidnap Catherine, and she had apprehended the alleged culprit and tied him up. However, upon arriving at the crime scene, the police discovered the lifeless body of the girl inside the farmhouse.
Subsequently, Chingsianzovi was taken into custody, and she later confessed to the murder. The prosecution argued that her actions resulted from intoxication, leading to her conviction under Section 304 and Section 182 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Catherine was an orphan and had been residing with her aunt, Chingsianzovi, in Khawzawl town.
