JUDGMENT :

John Michael Cunha, J.

This appeal is filed by accused No.1 challenging the judgment of conviction dated 04.09.2015 and order of sentence dated 07.09.2015 passed by the III-Additional Sessions Judge, Vijayapur in S.C.No.155/2011. The appellant (hereinafter referred to as 'accused No.1') is convicted for the offences punishable under sections 498A, 302, 364, 304B, 316 of IPC read with section 34 of IPC and sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and is sentenced to imprisonment for life and various other terms of imprisonment and fine.

2. The appellant along with two other accused namely, accused Nos.2 and 3 were sent up for trial on the allegation that the appellant (accused No.1) being the husband of the deceased Shivabai was ill-treating and harassing her demanding additional dowry. On 13.05.2011 at around 10.00 a.m. he took the deceased from the house of the complainant PW-1 on the pretext of taking her for harvesting onion crop along with accused Nos.2 and 3. On the same day around 6.00 p.m. PW-2 the mother of the deceased found the dead body of the deceased lying in the sugar cane field of the complainant with her neck strangulated with her saree. She informed th