JUDGMENT :

K. SOMASHEKAR, J.

1. The accused Nos. 2 and 4 are arranged as appellants Nos. 1 and 2 in Criminal Appeal No. 100003/2017 and accused Nos. 1 and 3 are arranged as appellants Nos. 1 and 2 in Criminal Appeal No. 100340/2016. They have preferred these appeals challenging the judgment of conviction and order of sentence rendered by the learned II Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Belagavi (hereinafter referred to as ‘the trial Court’ for brevity) in S.C. No. 287/2013 dated 22.11.2016, whereby the accused Nos. 1 to 4 have been convicted for the offences punishable under Sections 302, 341 and 506 read with Section 34 of the IPC, 1860. Accused Nos. 1 to 4 are sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 25,000/- each and in default of payment of fine, to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of one year for the offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the IPC. Further accused Nos. 1 to 4 are sentenced to undergo imprisonment for a period of one month and to pay fine of Rs. 1,000/- each and in default of payment of fine, to further undergo imprisonment for a period of one month for the offence punishable under Sections 341 read with Se