Karnataka high court murder: 'She went all out to excel'

The slain woman advocate, Naveena JS, moved to Bangalore from her native Chintamani about five months ago; and much against her parents’ wishes.

“They were not in favour of Naveena practising law in Bangalore,” her uncle JV Narayanaswamy said. “They wanted her to get married and settle down in Chintamani.” Naveena’s father JV Srinivas Reddy was in no position to interact with the media.

Naveena, who was living as a paying guest in Cox Town, completed her pre-university education in Chintamani. She graduated from a college in Kolar and finished her five-year law course also in Kolar, her uncle said.

“She wanted to practise law and that was the reason she chose to come to Bangalore. She was the eldest child in the family. She had two younger brothers,” Narayanaswamy said.

“She was determined to excel,” her close friend Manjula, who was also her classmate, said. Manjula was one of the last persons Naveena saw before she was murdered.

She said Naveena had never mentioned Rajappa’s name to her. “Naveena was a very dear friend. I’ve known her for five years,” she said. “I had spoken to her a few minutes before the incident. She did not sound disturbed,” Manjula said.

“I saw them both (Naveena and Rajappa) talking. I went to the washroom, and when I returned, her throat was slit. He was also cutting himself,”

Azimuddin, an eyewitness, said.