A court here on Tuesday awarded 10 people with double life imprisonment for the honour killing last year of a 23-year-old Dalit Christian who had caused extensive protests across the state.

The Court of Principal Sessions on August 22 noted that Kevin P Joseph's murder involving the parents of his wife was an honour killing case. 

All the 10 accused found guilty under different sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 302 (homicide), 364A (ransom kidnapping) and Section 506(2) (criminal intimidation punishment) were given a double-life term in the case, journalists were told by Special Public Prosecutor C S Ajayan. Three persons were also sentenced under IPC Section 120(b) (Criminal conspiracy), including prime accused Syaanu Chacko, Kevin's brother-in-law. In the incident, there were 14 accusers. Four people were acquitted for lack of proof, including Kevin's father-in-law Chacko.