Delhi Court awards life sentence to mother for smothering to death 2 minor daughters

Delhi Court sentences woman to life for murdering daughters, citing societal shock and possibility of rehabilitation.

A Delhi Court has awarded a life sentence to a woman for smothering to death her two minor daughters in 2018, terming it a "cold-blooded murder" and the rarest of rare cases.

The court observed that the gruesome offence shook the court’s conscience as mothers were idolised by society because of their nurturing role, sacrifices, emotional resilience and selflessness.

Announcing the punishment to Leelawati (32) who was earlier convicted for murder, Additional Sessions Judge Sachin Jain of Tis Hazari Court said considering the well-being of the two surviving children of the convict and since there was a possibility of her rehabilitation and reintegration into society, life term was more appropriate than a death sentence.

According to the prosecution, she brutally murdered her two daughters, aged five years and five months respectively, by smothering them on February 20, 2018.

In its order, the court said, "No doubt, mother is always seen as a saviour because of her nurturing role and perceived sacrifice and for that reason, society intends to idolise motherhood, expecting women to be selfless, nurturing and emotionally resilient.

"Therefore, the act of murder of her own two daughters shakes the conscience not only of the court but of the society at large. Further, the act of smothering both the daughters by the convict is a clear-cut cold-blooded murder, bringing the present case into the category of rare of the rarest case."

The court, however, said that the woman had two surviving children, a daughter (7) and a son (2), and their well-being and future needs had to be considered.