Gaege Bethune, accused in the murder of Pravin Varughese convicted

A jury found 23 year old Gaege Bethune guilty in the murder of Pravin Varughese (19) four years ago. He faces 20 to 60 years in prison.
The jury at Murphysboro court deliberated for seven hours before reaching the verdict.
Varughese, a student at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, was found dead in the woods after being missing for five days, in February 2014. The autopsy by the coroner found that he died of hypothermia.
But the family did not agree with it and they conducted a second autopsy which found that he died due to blunt force trauma.
It followed a fight for justice by his mother Lovely Varughese for years. Pravin got a ride in the vehicle of Bethune on the fateful night. There was a quarrel and Bethune beat Varughese and he ran to the woods and died there.
‘Pravin’s day finally came. He can rest in peace now,’ Lovely said.
She and her family stayed in Carbondale for the two-week trial and waited for seven hours at the Jackson County courthouse in nearby Murphysboro while the jury deliberated.
Bethune had been free on bail, but after he was convicted Thursday, his bond was revoked and he was taken to jail.
Bethune's defense attorney, former Jackson County State’s Attorney Michael Wepsiec, ‘just kept saying the family was supposed to accept (authorities’ findings). I’m like, no, my son’s name has to be proven,’ she told the Chicago Tribune
Wepsiec said that he intends to seek a new trial, saying the injuries found on Pravin should never have led to a murder conviction for his client, according to Tribune.
‘We’re certainly going to file a motion for a new trial and see what we can do with that. Right now I think we’re all in shock at the verdict of guilty on the felony murder based on the aggravated battery. The evidence does not support that.’
Prosecutor David Robinson said he was pleased with the verdict, and believed the jurors took their time and thoughtfully considered the case.
Prosecutors said Bethune and Varughese, were intoxicated when the two fought and Bethune beat and robbed Varughese.
Wepsiec had argued that only superficial bruises were found on Varughese's body and $24 was in his wallet.
An Illinois State Police report also revealed early on that a trooper came across Bethune’s vehicle at just after midnight the same evening, and that Bethune had a red mark on his face and told the officer that a man he’d offered a ride to punched him and then ran into the woods. The officer scanned the woods and then left, the report stated.
‘I was pretty peaceful. The amount of people that came into the courtroom every day to support us was … unbelievable,” she said. “(There are) so many for whom justice is denied in this area, and they are all looking up to us and this gives them hope. … The way these people come and hug you. They are really thanking us for taking that extra step to go this far,’ she told the Tribune.

Pravin with family