JUDGMENT:

C.Praveen Kumar, J.

1. Heard Sri. M. Ravindra, learned Counsel appearing for the Appellant/Accused and Sri. S. Dushyanth Reddy, learned Additional Public Prosecutor, appearing for the State.

2. The Sole Accused in Sessions Case No. 94 of 2012 on the file of Principal Sessions Judge, Nellore, is the Appellant herein. He was tried for an offence punishable under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code [‘I.P.C.’] for causing the death of his wife, by name, Mangala Thirupathamma [‘Deceased’] by pouring kerosene and setting her on fire.

3. The facts, in issue, are as under:

i) PW1 is the father of the deceased. PW2, PW3, PW4, PW5 and PW6 are residents of Tabetivaripalem Village, who are known to the Accused and the deceased. The marriage between the Accused and deceased took place about 15 years prior to the incident and they were blessed with a daughter aged about 20 year and a son aged about 16 years.

ii) While things stood thus, on 07.09.2010 at about 11.50 P.M., one Mangala Thirupathamma was brought in 108 ambulance by PW12, one Mangala Venkataramanaiah, who are the sister-in-law and her husband. The doctor [PW10] found her conscious and coherent, but, however, noticed burn injuries on