Goa serial killer acquitted in fifth murder case

PANAJI - An alleged 41-year-old serial killer was acquitted in a fifth murder case by a local court here Saturday due to lack of evidence.

Mahanand Naik has been lodged in a Goa prison since last year for allegedly murdering 16 women over 16 years, according to the police.

On Saturday, principal sessions judge Nutan Sardesai acquitted Naik, who was charge sheeted for the murder of a 33-year-old woman, Kesar Naik, in 2007.

Police had said in their chargesheet that Naik had strangulated Kesar to death in the bushes at Sanvordem, 45 km from here, and thrown her body in a pond.

The court ruled that the prosecution was unable to bring forth enough conclusive evidence to convict Naik of murder.

This is the fifth murder acquittal in a row for Naik, who has been convicted for raping his wife’s friend and sentenced to seven years’ jail term.