Thiruvananthapuram: The Kollam additional sessions court on Tuesday found G Sandeep, a 42-year-old school teacher, guilty of the brutal murder of 23-year-old Dr Vandana Das at Kottarakkara Taluk Hospital in May 2023. The court will pronounce the quantum of punishment on Thursday. Pronouncing the verdict, the court rejected the defence’s argument that the accused suffered from mental illness under the schizophrenia spectrum, ruling that he was fully aware of his actions and that the attack was premeditated. Sandeep, a UP school teacher at Nedumpana, was convicted under multiple sections of the Bharathiya Nyaya Samhitha, including murder, attempt to murder, and obstruction of public servants, along with provisions of the Healthcare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act.Special public prosecutor Prathap G Padikkal said the prosecution successfully established all charges beyond a reasonable doubt. “The accused attempted to fabricate a defence of insanity by studying psychiatric material and misleading evaluators but the evidence clearly proved this was a deliberate act,” he told the court, adding that witness testimonies and medical assessments confirmed Sandeep’s mental fitness at the time of the crime.The incident occurred in the early hours of May 10, 2023, when Sandeep was brought to the hospital by police after he was injured in a brawl. He suddenly turned violent and grabbed a pair of surgical scissors from the dressing room and attacked several people, including police personnel and hospital staff, before fatally stabbing Dr Vandana, who was on duty in the casualty wing. Dr Vandana, a house surgeon who completed her MBBS, sustained multiple stab injuries and later succumbed to her wounds after she was shifted to a hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. Her death triggered widespread outrage and protests from the medical fraternity demanding better security for healthcare workers. During the trial, the prosecution examined more than 70 witnesses and produced over 200 documents, including medical reports, witness testimonies and forensic evidence. The court also relied on psychiatric evaluations conducted soon after the incident, which ruled out any signs of mental disorder in the accused.The defence argued that there was no prior enmity and sought to invoke legal protection under insanity provisions but the court dismissed these claims, citing strong evidence of intent and preparation. Reacting to the verdict, K G Mohandas and Vasanthakumari, the parents of Dr Vandana, said they would respond in detail after the sentencing was pronounced.
