HC awards double life sentence to murder accused

Chennai, Feb 29 (UNI) The Madras High Court has set aside a lower court order, acquitting a 65-year-old man in a murder for gain case and awarded him double life sentence based on circumstantial evidence.

A division bench, comprising Mr Justice D Murugesan and Mr Justice V Periya Karuppiah held that the prosecution had established the case with the cirumstantial evidence without any breakage of links.

The bench said the reasoning given by the Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track Court II, Kancheepuram, in acquitting the accused that the offence was not proved through circumstantial evidence was not sustainable and accordingly set aside.

''We are satisfied that the prosecution has proved the charges framed against the accused beyond all reasonable doubts,'' the bench said.

The bench said the accused Kutty alias Natarajan was liable to be punished under sections 449, 341, 302, 380 and 201 and awarded him double life sentence. The sentence would run concurrently, it said.

The prosecution case was that the accused had murdered one Jagadambal after entering her house in Kancheepuram and stole the jewels belonging to her.

With an intention to commit the offence, he had pushed the deceased and stabbed her thrice on the abdoman. He had put her clothes on her body and set it on fire after pouring kerosene, thereby causing disappearance of evidence, the prosecution said.

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