W VENKANNA Vs. STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The sole accused in Sessions Case No.236 of 1989 on the file of the Sessions Judge, Nalgonda is the appellant. He was tried for the offence under Section 302 I.P.C. and was sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life.

(2.) The gravamen of the charge against him is that on 9-8-1989 at about 3 P.M. at Ambedkar Nagar Colony, Suryapet, the appellant is alleged to have caused the death of one Kancherla Venkatamma (hereinafter referred to as 'the deceased') by pouring kerosene on her and setting fire to her.

(3.) The prosecution case in brief is as follows: The appellant and the material prosecution witnesses are residents of Ambedkar Nagar, Suryapet. The deceased was also a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, Suryapet. The deceased was the second wife of P.W-1. The appellant is a watch repairer. About four or five months prior to the incident, the deceased and P.W-1 went to the hospital of one Dr.Rama Shankar, as P.W-1 was bitter by a mad dog. While they were so proceeding to the hospital of Dr. Rama Shankar, the appellant along with four others were standing in the bazar and the appellant followed the deceased and P.W-1 to the hospital of Dr.Rama Shankar and pressed her thigh with fingers. The deceased informed the same to P.W-1 butP.W-1 took a way the deceased to his house without questioning the accused about the same, with a view to avoid any dispute.