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PHILADELPHIA -- The man charged in the murder of a baby and her grandmother during a botched kidnapping and ransom scheme claimed that he killed both victims by accident, according to video released during his court appearance Wednesday.
Raghunandan Yandamuri, 26, is accused of murdering 10-month-old Saanvi Venna and her grandmother, Satyavathi Venna, 61, last month. It happened on Oct. 22, at an apartment complex in Upper Merion where both the Venna family and Yandamuri, a family friend, lived.
Police believe Yandamuri went to the apartment with the intention of kidnapping Saanvi and holding her for ransom. But police say Satyavathi, who was babysitting the child, fought for her granddaughter and was fatally stabbed by Yandamuri.
On Oct. 26, the baby's body was found in the basement of the apartment building and Yandamuri was arrested. Police say they also found a ransom note from Yandamuri demanding $50,000.
'Didn't mean to kill anyone'
On Wednesday, Yandamuri appeared in court for a preliminary hearing. During the hearing, a 23-minute video confession was played for the court, according to NBC10's Deanna Durante.
In the video, Yandamuri told police he "accidentally" slit Satyavathi Venna's throat and that he "didn't mean to kill anyone." The video also showed him confessing to stuffing a handkerchief in the baby's mouth and wrapping a towel around her head when she wouldn't stop crying.
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Yandamuri said in the video that he put the baby in a suitcase, escaped via a fire escape and sneaked into the basement of another apartment building.
Yandamuri also told police that when he took Saanvi out of the suitcase the towel was still wrapped around her face and she was unconscious. He said he removed the towel and handkerchief, splashed water on her and left her in the basement while he returned home, took a shower and went to work.
He also told police he went back to the basement around 3:30 p.m. with a bottle of milk for the girl but that she was already dead.
Yandamuri's defense attorney argued in court that since his client did not mean to kill anyone, first-degree murder should be taken off the table. Prosecutors disagreed, citing Yandamuri's ransom note as evidence against the attorney's claim.
According to prosecutors, 10 copies of the ransom note were left in the apartment of the Venna family with several references that if they didn't bring $50,000 by 8 p.m. that night that the baby would be killed. Prosecutors say that showed there was intention and premeditation for murder. The judge agreed with the prosecutors and ordered that Yandamuri stand trial on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, theft and abuse of corpse.
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HOLD UP! The baby died of suffication and the grandmother was killed by the knife...why does the headline say the baby's throat was slit. SMH damn reporter
I think one way to stop these low IQ idiots is execute them the same way they do their victims...they can understand that.
Can you imagine how absoutely dumb this guy is? An absolute f'ing moron. It's such a shame 2 people died because of this stupid piece of trash.
Why couldn't his stupidity just caused his own death?
well aright then, it was a simple mistake, an accident, I guess we need to forgive and let him go
He didn't mean to do it? Yeah, right, and the Pope is not a Catholic. You don't just accidentally slit somebody's throat. I worked in the prison system for years and I've heard every sob story in the book and this moron is lying. Take him out, tie him to a post with his hands behind his back, jerk his pants down and cut his junk off with a nice serrated blade dull knife. Then pour something like alcohol or Methiolate on it and toss him in a cell for the rest of his life plus 1 day. And have the biggest, baddest sissy in the whole joint come and visit him every evening before bed time. That'll give him plenty of time to think about what he's done.
This Bastar admitted killing, I would accidentally give him the needle NOW.
Go find a rope and I'll find a tall tree.
Sounds like defense may have a tough time with this case...
This man should be thrown in jail for life! Who does he think he's kidding with that retarded story...?
While a previous poster stated:
We're going to see a lot more things like this happening with the economy going downhill. Some people will resort to murder etc... when they're flat broke and starving. Unfortunately it's human nature to survive by almost any means.
The article states he was living in an apratment comples (roof over his head) and afterwards he took a shower and went to WORK. (paycheck) So while he may have been struggling like many of us, this was evil and greed...pure and simple. Not true "desperation"
And also another posted comment referring to "a red arrow pointing to Mecca" there is nothing in this article that states he is muslim. The majority of Indians are actually Hindu.
Peace and Prayers to the victims and their family.
Such comments are made by typical ignorant uneducated people here who don't have a clue which countries practice which religions. For these idiots, even India and Pakistan is the Middle-east! And everyone who lives in India and Pakistan are Muslims. You have to excuse them because they are the morrons who only listen to some racist redneck pastor who preaches racism.
It's simple....accidentally execute him!
Well if he didnt MEAN to slit her throat?!?! Bubba wont mean to bend you over and have his way with you either!! Again and again!! Sick twitch!
Does one need to guess where this guy was brought up and what shapped his values and morals?
And what would be YOUR guess, J clark?
There is NO WAY to ACCIDENTALLY slit someone's throat -- twice! Public beheading would serve this fool perfectly!, then send his body back to India freight collect!
He only slit 1 throat, the grandmother's. The baby was suffocated to death. Just trying to be accurate.
Tell him in the death chamber that they are about to "accidentally" put some killing drugs in his IV..
But you guys..... IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!!!!! He didn't MEAN to do it..... He's innocent, don't you know that?
I'm from Philly and the local news played part of the video last night. He showed absolutely no emotion whatsoever when he talked about killing that poor woman and her grandchild. He could have been discussing a football game the way he was talking. it was disgusting. And he supposedly was a friend of this family. I'm glad the judge allowed the first degree murder charge to stand. And I hope the prosecutor goes for the death penalty. This s.o.b. deserves nothing less. My deepest condolences to the Venna family on their tragic loss.
Another person commented that the killer had recentely arrived in the US for a visit and was due to return home soon.
At the risk of not sounding politically correct, does he not come from a country that doesn't particularly value the female? If so, that would explain the lack of emotion.
Amen Daz
A**hole!
Sounds like this guy should accidentally fall off of a 50 story building, I'm all for due process but if this guy and his lawyers can't come up with a better defense than this then they should just shoot the poor dumb SOB now.
Too bad this guy wasn't the person who broke into that house in Minnesota that we read about the other day, where the home owner went overboard pumping the 2 burglars full of extra bullets. That old man in the basement would have taken care of this scumbag.
Finishing move! I read that story too, the guy went overboard on that one. I also don't believe it happened like he says. Dragging bodies around?
As much as I agree with every comment regarding this disgusting POS I can't help but to imagine what this poor little baby girl experienced and endured. My heart breaks for her and all of these kids that I read about on MSN and I just can't understand what is broken within mankind that makes these terrible acts possible. There is nothing that we can do but hope that wherever she is now she is happy, safe and content and knows that she was loved. Disgusted, disillusioned and tired of praying because the prayers continually are unanwered every minute of every day. I'm ready for Armageddon or the Big bang or whatever comes just so that I don't have to share anymore oxygen with sick tormented souls like this sorry excuse for a human being............
How sad that people believe our prisons are for rehabilitating people. I always thought they were meant to PUNISH people who did something wrong. Maybe we need to refocus our justice system. It cannot be both ways.
@MDP928 really needs to get with it. People are angry at child murderers and need to vent. At least they are not walking the streets like some vigilantes.
his fellow inmates arent gonna take to kind with him killin that child
How do Defense Attorneys live with themselves?
How sad... Accidentally killed? Wow...
a. Prosecution is only picking on him because they're racist.
b. he was abused as a child
c. we don't understand cultural differences
d. he's too fat/skinny/crazy to execute.
e. he was framed
Did I miss anything?
You have GOT to be kidding! He confessed to the crime and is trying for a plea deal to keep his sorry inhuman butt off death row! "cultural differences" REALLY? So it's OK to kidnap and kill someone because we don't understand them? Oh. My. God. (That's MY God, NOT his.)
Framed? - he confessed.
(Oh - Dear newsvine: can I call him "inhuman"; the bad guy - is he you know. just asking)
f. he's just clumsy
Calm down Texas, Bagdad Joe was throwing sarcasm out there.
I surely hope so.