HC awards life term for murder

New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) Lending credence to theeye-witness account of a 15-year-old school boy, the DelhiHigh Court has awarded rigorous life imprisonment to a man forstabbing to death his neighbour here in 1995.

The High Court relied on the testimony of the boy Deepakwho was away from the school and incidentally witnessed thekilling of his maternal uncle on the afternoon of September14, 1995.

"It is not unknown for children to bunk school andtherefore it is inconsequential that the time and the date ofthe offence was when Deepak was expected to be in his school,"a bench of Justices Pradeep Nandrajog and Suresh Kait said.

The bench rejected the plea of convict Sanjeev Kumar thatthe testimony of the minor should not be believed as he was a"planted" witness because a school-going child was supposed tobe in his school at the time of offence.

"It would be relevant to note that Deepak was alsocross-examined at length and indeed, nothing has been broughtout worthy of being noted which could discredit histestimony," the bench said while dismissing the appeal ofSanjeev against his conviction by the lower court in the case.

The accused had stabbed victim Brij Mohan, a resident ofTrilok Puri, several times on September 14, 1995. He died ina hospital. (more) PTI SJK RKS