1. The case of the prosecution, in brief, is as follows:-

The deceased Gangamma and the accused were residents of Bagali village. On 12.05.2005, at about 11.00 p.m., with an intention to commit robbery of gold ornaments, cash and other articles kept in the steel trunk, the accused, whose house is located just one house after the house of deceased, trespassed into the house of Gangamma. At the moment, when the accused tried to come out of the house, the deceased Gangamma woke up and screamed. At that point of time, the accused, apprehending that his act of robbery will be spread to the villagers, he committed her murder by compressing/strangulating her neck with his hands. Upon hearing the scream sound from the house of deceased Gangamma, PW.2 (Channaveerappa) who was sleeping in the front yard of house woke up and he rushes to the house of the deceased Gangamma along with PW.3 Kenchappa and they saw the accused coming out of the house of the deceased with steel trunk in his hand. When they enquired him, he did no give satisfactory reply and the said fact was informed to PW.1 Patragouda, the relative of the deceased. When PW.1 complainant enquired the accused about carrying