JUDGMENT

P. Venkatarama Reddi, J.-The accused was charged under Section 302 IPC for the alleged murder of his wife by name Chilakamma on 4th March, 1993 at about 9.00 p.m. at their house by strangulating with a rope and hanging her to the beam. He was also charged under Section 201 IPC for causing disappearance of evidence by shifting the dead body to his native place in a different village. On trial by the Sessions Judge, Khammam he was convicted under Sections 302 and 201 IPC and sentenced to life imprisonment. On appeal, the High Court confirmed the conviction and sentence and dismissed the appeal. The High Court as well as the Sessions Court, mainly relied on the evidence of two child witnesses-PWs 2 & 16 who were aged six years and ten years respectively on the date of the incident. At the time they gave evidence in the Court, they were of the age of 13 years and 17 years respectively.

2. The accused, who belonged to Wyra village in Khammam District of Andhra Pradesh, moved to Garla village with his family for eking out his livelihood by digging the wells. They were living on rent in a portion of the house belonging to PW4 s husband who was a teacher. It is the case of the p