CHICAGO: A 46-year-old Indian-origin computer scientist, who was extradited to the US from India to face trial in a triple murder case, has been sentenced to life for killing his wife and two young children by slashing their throats in 2008.
Lakshminivasa Rao was extradited to the US from Hyderabad after he was arrested by the Crime Investigation Department in Krishna district.
The court has also rejected the defence argument that Lakshminivasa was mentally ill when he slit the throats of his wife Jayalakshmi and two children before escaping to India.
He had stabbed his wife 59 times before slitting her throat on October 13 in 2008. He then killed his daughter Tejaswi and son Siva.
He waited for his daughter, Tejasvi, 14, to arrive home from school before ambushing her as she came through the door. Forty minutes later, he attacked his son, Siva Kumar, 12, as he, too, arrived home. He fled to Hyderabad the next day but was arrested in 2013 and extradited to Michigan to face murder charges.
Nerusu had admitted to the killings, and testified on his own behalf, but said he blacked out and could not recall the details. He had admitted he would sometimes slap his wife when they argued and worried that she would call the police. Defense attorney Lawrence Kaluzny argued Nerusu was insane at the time, but jurors clearly disbelieved that.
Nerusu showed no emotion as he was led away shackled at his waist and ankles.
