JUDGMENT

M.G.Uma, J. - The appellant Nos.1 to 10 who were arrayed as accused Nos.1 to 4, 7, 9 to 13, have preferred this appeal aggrieved by the impugned judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 5/4/2016 passed in SC No.340/2013 on the file of the Special Court (POCSO) and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity) and III Additional District & Sessions Judge, Belgaum, (hereinafter referred to as "the trial Court"), whereunder these accused were convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 143, 148, 341, 324, 504, 506, 307, 302 r/w Section 149 of IPC.

2. It is stated that no charge sheet was fi led against accused No.5 and accused No.6 is a juvenile tried before the Juvenile Justice Board and accused No.8 is already dead.

3. During the pendency of the appeal, The learned Advocate for the appellants filed a memo reporting the death of accused No.4 along with his death extract. Vide order dated 8/6/2020 the appeal preferred by accused No.4 stands abated.

4. The respondent State is notified. Heard the learned Advocate for the appellants Sri. S.B.Deyannavar and learned Additional SPP Sri . V.M.Banakar for the State.

5. It is the contention of the prosecution that the accused and d