(1.) THIS jail criminal appeal has been preferred against the impugned judgment dated 31.07.2004 passed by the learned Ad hoc Additional Sessions Judge, Fast Track, Khurda in S.T. Case No. 35/19/186 of 2003/2002 convicting the appellant under Section 302, I.P.C. and sentencing him to undergo imprisonment of life and further to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000/ - and in default to undergo additional R.I. for six months.
(2.) BEREFT of unnecessary details, facts leading to the prosecution case in a nut -shell are that on 27.03.2002 at about 9.00 A.M., on hearing gruesome murder on the Sarua -Kumbhilo road of a young married lady within the age group of 27 to 30 years, the informant Grama Rakhi of the village went to the spot and found severe cut injuries on the neck and head of the woman wearing a printed red colour saree and red blouse. One silver paunji was on her leg. While one ear flower was intact and other one was broken. One paunji, some broken bangles, hair clip were lying nearby. One blood stained katuri and a knife were also lying at a distance of 75 to 100 feet. Since the woman being an outsider, the villagers including the informant could not identify her.
(3.) THE defence plea is of complete denial of all the allegations.