The district sessions court here on Friday awarded life imprisonment to a farmer and his parents for murdering his 22-year-old pregnant wife, demanding dowry.

Dhanabal, 32, of Kuruvikkarankulam village near Pulivalam, married Gomathi, 22, of Aevoor near Musiri in 2008.

The couple was living with Dhanabal’s parents in the same house. However, Dhanabal and his parents reportedly harassed Gomathi demanding dowry and this led to frequent quarrels between them.

A similar quarrel broke out between Dhanabal and Gomathi on the night of November 21, 2010. The charred body of Gomathi was recovered from near their house the next morning.

Police investigation revealed that Dhanabal and her parents had murdered Gomathi by setting her ablaze. Subsequently, Pulivalam police arrested Dhanabal and his parents Ramasamy and Chellammal.

The trial of the case was held at the district sessions court. District sessions judge Velmurugan who heard the case found Dhanabal and his parents guilty of charges and slapped life imprisonment on them.