METTA SHANKARA RAO Vs. STATE OF A.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Seven homicidal deaths in a hamlet of a village, in Srikakulam District and this includes, those of two children, three men and two women. The horrific incident can easily be imagined. The prosecution alleged that the accused, by name, Metta Shankara Rao, R/o Mettapeta H/o Nagirikatakam Village, Jalumuru Mandal, Srikakulam District, caused the death of all the seven, including that of his two minor children, a boy and a girl of tender age. The magnitude of the incident is not difficult to assess and naturally, the prosecution has evinced lot of interest. As many as 48 prosecution witnesses were examined and 53 documents were filed. 26 material objects were taken on record.

(2.) On appreciation of oral and documentary evidence before him, the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Srikakulam, through judgment, dated 30.04.2012 in S.C. No. 64 of 2011, held the accused guilty of causing all the seven deaths and imposed the capital punishment of death. While the trial Court referred the matter to this Court under Section 366 Cr.P.C., for confirmation, the accused filed Crl. A. No. 1265 of 2012. Both of them are heard together.

(3.) The accused was employed in C.R.P.F. He was married to Vijayalaxmi, the daughter of P.W. 3 and out of their wedlock, they had two children, Manasa and Divakar. The wife of the accused died in the year 2007. Alleging that the accused herein is responsible for the death of his wife, he was prosecuted in S.C. No. 72 of 2007 by the Court of Assistant Sessions Judge, Srikakulam, under Section 304-B I.P.C. Through its judgment, dated 30.03.2009, the trial Court convicted the accused herein for the offence under Section 304-B I.P.C., and imposed the sentence of Rigorous Imprisonment for seven (7) years. In Crl. A. No. 64 of 2009, the Sessions Court, Srikakulam, suspended the sentence and the accused was released on bail.