‘Trivial reason’: Kerala High Court upholds man’s conviction for fatally stabbing 19-year-old boy over Rs 100 debt

Findings

• On a careful analysis of the evidence on record, both oral and documentary, the prosecution has successfully discharged its burden of proving the charge against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
• On analysing the evidence of the prosecution witnesses, there is no reason to disagree with the conclusion of the trial court that the death of the victim is homicidal.
• Not impressed by the argument advanced by the Legal Aid Counsel that the discrepancies with regard to the description of weapon is fatal to the prosecution case.
• Eye witnesses of this case gave clear evidence that the accused, due to animosity in connection with the non-repayment of a borrowed sum of Rs.100, abused, assaulted and inflicted a stab injury on the back of the deceased.
• Medical evidence established that the death was caused by a penetrating stab injury to the back, which was sufficient in the ordinary course of nature to cause death.
• Motive is the emotion which impels a man to do a particular act. Such impelling causes need not necessarily be proportionally grave to do grave crimes.
• Time and again, the Apex Court observed that defective investigation is not a ground for the acquittal of the case if the evidence tendered by the prosecution inspires the confidence of the Court.

Background

• The prosecution had alleged that in 2012 the victim was talking with his friends when the accused stabbed on the back of the victim with a broken metallic handle of a ladle.
• It was alleged that the accused attacked the victim due to animosity arising from the non-repayment of a sum of Rs 100 allegedly borrowed by the deceased.
• Despite being taken to multiple hospitals, the victim succumbed to his injuries the next morning.
• The trial court convicted the accused and sentenced him to life imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 3 lakh, directing that the fine amount be paid as compensation to the victim’s mother.