MACHILIPATNAM Vs. ARJA NARASIMHA RAO

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Criminal Appeal No.610 of 2001 is filed by the accused in Sessions Case No.438 of 2000 against the order of conviction and sentence recorded by the I Additional Sessions Judge, Machilipatnam, of the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code. The learned Sessions Judge sentenced the appellant- accused to death. The reference in referred trial No.3 of 2001 is made by the learned Sessions Judge for confirmation of the death sentence recorded by him against the accused.

(2.) The substance of the charge against the accused was that on 12-8-2000 at about 8-30 a.m., he caused the death of his wife named Arja Leela by hacking her with a knife on her head and other parts of her body.

(3.) The prosecution story can be briefly narrated as follows : Marriage between the accused and the deceased took place about 20 years prior to the incident. They lived at Pedayadara village. Out of their wedlock, three daughters and two sons were born to them.