CHATHU @ ALAKKADAN CHATHU Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole accused in Crime No.199 of 2010 of Panoor Police Station is the appellant before us aggrieved by the judgment dtd. 28/3/2019 of the Additional Sessions Judge-II, Thalassery in S.C.No.451 of 2011.

(2.) The case of the prosecution is that at about 06.30 a.m. on 18/3/2010, the accused committed the murder of one Vasu, son of Kunhiraman [hereinafter referred to as the "deceased"] by intentionally inflicting fatal injuries on him using a billhook. The motive for the murder was apparently to settle scores with the deceased on account of a property dispute that was subsisting between the accused and the deceased. The deceased died on the spot within a short while after the infliction of the fatal injuries.

(3.) The investigation commenced with the registration of Crime No.199 of 2010 of Panoor Police Station, and on its culmination, the final report was laid before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thalassery in C.P.No.6 of 2011. The appellant/accused appeared before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thalassery, when he was furnished with copies of all the relevant prosecution records. Thereafter, on complying with the other procedural formalities, the learned Magistrate committed the case to the Court of Sessions, Thalassery, from where it was made over to the Additional Sessions Judge-II, Thalassery for trial. On the appearance of the appellant/accused before the trial court, the charges framed against him were read over and explained to him, to which he pleaded not guilty. He was thereafter released on bail.