JUDGMENT :

Navin Sinha, J.

The appellants stand convicted under Section 302 IPC to life imprisonment. Appellant Chandrasekar additionally stands convicted under Section 324 IPC to six months rigorous imprisonment.

2. The statement of the injured, PW-1 Lalbahadur Sastri, brother-in-law of the deceased Gnanasekaran, was recorded by the Sub-Inspector of Police at the Udumalpet Government Hospital on 17.07.2007 at 10:00 AM with regard to the assault made by the appellants on the deceased and the witness, the same morning at 7:30 AM. The motive was ascribed to the acquittal of the deceased the previous day, in a criminal prosecution at the behest of appellant Govindaraj. The deceased was assaulted by the appellants repeatedly on the head with a hammer, sickle and iron rod respectively. The witness was also assaulted by the appellants causing injuries. Formal FIR was registered the same day under Section 506 (ii) and 307, IPC. The deceased expired at the hospital on the same day at 11:30 AM after which Section 302 IPC was also added.

3. The postmortem of the deceased, Exhibit P-5, was conducted by PW-11 Dr. Jayasingh, who found the following injuries on the person of the deceased:-

1. A verti