An Indian man who used a cobra and a viper to murder his wife was sentenced to life in jail on Wednesday, AFP reported.
Sooraj Kumar set loose a highly venomous Russell’s viper snake on his wife Uthra that left her in hospital for almost two months, prosecutors said.
While she recovered at her parents’ house, the 28-year-old husband obtained a cobra from a snake handler and threw it at his sleeping wife. Its poisonous bite killed the 25-year-old woman.
Sooraj pleaded not guilty.
Uthra was from an affluent family, but her husband, a bank worker, was not well off.
The dead woman’s parents became suspicious after Sooraj tried to take control of her property after the death.
Their marriage involved a big dowry, including a new car and 500,000 rupees (around $20,000).
According to media reports, Sooraj’s family was charged with conspiracy after some of Uthra’s gold was found buried near Sooraj’s home days after the murder.