( 1 ) THIS is an appeal by Prakash Sen against the judgment and order passed by Sri L. C. Banerjee, learned Additional Sessions Judge, 2nd Court, Alipore convicting the appellant under Section 302, Indian Penal Code and sentencing him to imprisonment for life in Sessions Trial No. 2 (3) of 1986.

( 2 ) THE prosecution case may briefly be stated as follows: appellant Prakash Sen married Susama Adhikary (the deceased), daughter of Urmila Adhikary (PW 2) and sister of complainant Anima Adhikary (PW 1) and Archana Adhikary (PW 9) about 9 months before the date of occurrence, i. e. , 6-9-83. After marriage, Prakash and his wife Susama resided in the house of Prakash's father at Japur, Bongaon for 2/3 months and thereafter they lived together in a rented house at Gandhipally, Bongaon. They finally shifted to Madhyamgram where they were living together in a rented house at the time of occurrence.

( 3 ) ON 6-9-83 Prakash and Susama came to the house of Rabi Adhikary (PW 5), son-in-law of PW 1 Anima Adhikary, at Paschimpara, Bongaon in the morning. On the same day in the evening Prakash and Susama came to the house of Putul Sarkar (PW 10) at Japur, Bongaon where Susama's mo