PURUSHU @ PURUSHOTHAMAN Vs. STATE OF KERALA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellant, who was prosecuted for the offence of uxoricide was found guilty. He was therefore convicted and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life.

(2.) The prosecution unfolds the story thus:

(3.) On receiving information about the incident, a Head Constable, namely Narayanan, (HC 183) from Hosdurg Police Station went to the Hospital. He found that the victim was unable to give any statement and therefore recorded Ext.P1 first information statement given by P.W.1. When he returned to the station, P.W.14, the Sub Inspector of Police, on the basis of Ext.P1, registered Crime No. 284 of 2002 under Section 307 Indian Penal Code. Investigation was taken over by P.W.10. He visited the place of occurrence and prepared Ext.P5 scene mahazar. He recovered M.O.3. It appears that while undergoing treatment at Pariyaram Hospital, the victim breathed her last. Therefore, P.W.10 conducted inquest over the body of the victim and prepared Ext.P4 inquest report. M.O.2 Lunki found on the body was taken into possession. He filed Ext.P9 report before the JFCM seeking to alter the offence from Section 307 to one under Section 302 IPC. As per Ext.P8 seizure mahazar he seized M.O.1 Maxi said to have been worn by the victim at the relevant time. On 24.7.2002 the accused was arrested and produced before court. Statements of witnesses were recorded by him. In the meanwhile, postmortem over the body of the victim was conducted by P.W.12, who furnished Ext.P14 report dated 26.6.2002. On 10.6.2002, as per the requisition made by the police and as directed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kanhangad, P.W.6, the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thalassery recorded the statement of the victim from the hospital after obtaining Ext.P6(a) certificate from P.W.15, the Doctor, who was attending to the victim at the relevant time. The investigating Officer had the scene plan prepared and investigation completed. P.W.11 procured Ext.P13 chemical report from the Forensic Lab in relation to the articles sent for chemical examination. Thereafter he verified the records and laid charge before court.