JUDGMENT

B.Veerappa, J. - Hearing was conducted through video conference and the learned Counsel for the parties agree that the audio and video are proper.

2. The accused, who is in judicial custody for more than 7 years 2 months has filed the present criminal appeal under the provisions of Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (for short, hereinafter referred to as 'Cr.P.C')against the impugned judgment and order of conviction dated 10.12.2014 made in S.C.No.61/2013 by the Principal Sessions Judge, Chikamagalur convicting the appellant-accused for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the INDIAN PENAL CODE (for short, hereinafter referred to as 'IPC') and sentencing him to undergo life imprisonment and to pay a fine of Rs.30,000/- in default of payment of fine to undergo rigorous imprisonment for three years.

I - The factual matrix of the case

3. It is the case of the prosecution that the appellant was working as Computer Instructor in Keonics Yuva.Com at Chikmagalur. When the deceased - Nayana joined for computer training in the said institution, at that time, the present accused was her Computer Instructor. It is alleged that both the appellant-accused and the