(Image source from: Chicago Tribune)
A man in the United States has been condemned of the first-degree murder of an Indian-origin student after four years of his family's untiring endeavor to seek justice, according to a media report.
Pravin Varughese, a student of Southern Illinois University was found dead in 2014 after being missing for five days, initially regime in Carbondale alleged it as a tragic mishap.
According to report, Varughese's cause of death initially was reported as environmental hypothermia. However, the family of the 19-year-old student from Morton Grove, a village in Illinois, was merely unwilling to accept that.
His menage pushed for further probe, had an independent necropsy performed that conflicted with the local coroner's findings and filed suit against Carbondale and its police chief, who was fired shortly.
On Thursday, a Panel of 12-person found Gaege Bethune, a Southern Illinois man, culpable of the murder of Varughese.
"Pravin's day finally came. He can rest in peace now," Pravin's mother, Lovely Varughese said.
According to probe, Bethune, who was 19-year-old at that time, told police that he gave Varughese a ride in the night of February 12, 2014, after a party, and the two drove around while Varughese was allegedly looking to get cocaine.
Bethune said that at some point he got into a fight with Varughese.
The prosecution said the two had been fighting over money, and alleged Bethune landed several punches to Varughese's head and face that led to Varughese running into the woods, where he later found dead.
According to a media report, jurors deliberated for seven hours before returning a verdict.
Southern Illinoisan reported that they found Bethune at fault of one count of murder that hinged on the state arguing Bethune caused great bodily harm and that his death was "a direct and foreseeable consequence".
According to the newspaper, Bethune was found culpable on a second murder charge that accused him of robbing the victim.
A sentencing has not been scheduled and Bethune now faces 20 to 60 years of imprisonment.
By Sowmya Sangam
