K.N. Phaneendra, J.

The appellants who are arrayed as accused Nos.1 & 2 have challenged the judgment of conviction dated 7.5.2014 and the order of sentence dated 9.5.2014 passed by the Fast Track (Sessions) Judge-V, Bengaluru City, in SC No.1199/2012, and sentencing them to undergo imprisonment for life for the offence punishable under section 302 r/w Section 34 of IPC with a direction that they should not be released from the prison for the rest of their life.

2. The accused persons have individually preferred appeals. Accused No.1 Ranjith.K. @ Batta has preferred an appeal in Criminal Appeal No.471/2014, whereas the accused No.2 Bhuvanesh. T.P. @ Kutti has preferred an appeal in Criminal Appeal No.475/2014. Apart from the above said two appeals, the State has also preferred an appeal in Criminal Appeal No.766/2014 on the ground that the trial Court has imposed the sentence without making any order regarding fine, and sought for modification of the judgment and to impose fine on the accused persons for the offence punishable under section 302 read with Section 34 of IPC, as imposition of fine is mandatory under the above said provision.

3. As the above said three appeals ar