Chittoor: Nearly a decade after the brutal daylight killings that shocked Chittoor, a special court on Friday delivered its verdict in the sensational 2015 double murder case of former Chittoor Mayor Katari Anuradha and her husband Katari Mohan, bringing a long and closely watched legal battle to a turning point.

The court found five accused (A1 to A5) guilty in the murder case and ordered that they be taken into judicial custody saying that the quantum of punishment will be pronounced on October 27. However, it acquitted the remaining 18 accused (A6 to A23), citing lack of sufficient evidence, and ruled that their bail bonds would remain in effect for six months. The verdict followed an exhaustive trial that stretched nearly ten years, during which 122 witnesses were examined.

The case

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