So far, the rapist-murderer has been convicted in 18th case and given 6th death sentence. | Photo Credit: Representative Image

Key Highlights 'Cyanide' Mohan given death penalty for murdering Kerala woman Mohan killed at least 20 women between 2003 and 2009 by giving them cyanide laced contraceptive pills The victim was a native of Kasargod in Kerala and worked in a beedi factory

Mangaluru: Serial rapist and murderer 'cyanide' Mohan is being convicted in cases one after the other. In a fresh case, a court in Mangaluru sentenced 'cyanide' Mohan to death in connection with the murder of a Kerala woman. The woman was a native of Kasargod.

So far, the rapist-murderer has been convicted in 18 cases and been given the death sentence in a fifth case. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 on the convict.

According to a report in The Times of India, the court further sentenced Mohan in the said case to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) on charges of kidnapping, seven years for rape (Section 376), 10 years for causing hurt by poison (Section 328), five years for robbery (Section 392), 10 years for causing hurt during robbery (Section 394), a year for cheating (Section 417), and seven years for causing disappearance of evidence (Section 201).

Mohan is currently lodged at Hindalga Central Jail. The hearing was conducted through a video conference link in the prison complex. The latest case is linked to the murder of the Kerala woman whom he met at Kumble bus stand in April 2009.

The 28-year-old victim worked in a beedi factory. In May, Mohan took the woman to a lodge in Kushalnagar where the two reportedly had sex. As is common in all other cases, Mohan then took the woman back to the bus station and gave her a contraceptive pill laced with cyanide poison. He then asked the woman to consume the pill at the bus station toilet which led to her death.

In the case, the court recorded the testimonies of 47 witnesses in the case apart from examining 72 documents and 43 material objects. So far, Mohan has been given death sentence in the five cases. While he has been convicted in the eighteenth case.

Of the five death penalties, one has already been confirmed by the Karnataka High Court. The convict remained calm when the sixth additional district sessions judge pronounced the sentence. 'Cyanide' Mohan had killed at least 20 women between 2003 and 2009 by giving them cyanide laced anti-pregnancy pills.