Former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that it was a serious lapse from the LDF government, which resulted in an adverse verdict from the Supreme Court in the Soumya murder case.

Chandy also urged the government to tender an apology to the people.

The Supreme Court had commuted the death sentence of the convict to life imprisonment in the Soumya murder case.

“The services of the probe team and advocates, who appeared in lower court and High court for the same case were not used properly by the present prosecutor. That was the reason for the failure,” Chandy said.

“The prosecutor who appeared in High Court, advocate Suresan’s performance was appreciable. The death sentence verdict was the result of their team’s five years of hard work. But the LDF government-appointed standing counsel, advocate general or director general of prosecutions did not seek Sukesan’s help in the case,” Chandy said.

He also pointed out that the UDF government earlier had passed an order to seek Sukesan’s advice when the case reached the Supreme Court.

“The SC verdict in the case has shocked entire Kerala. Soumya’s mother has also indicated that it was the government’s lapse which resulted in such a verdict,” Chandy added.