Tapash Mookherjee, J.

The present criminal appeal is directed against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence passed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Andaman & Nicobar Islands in Sessions Case No. 34 of 2010 (Session Trial No.15 of 2010). The appellant Gopal Debnath has been found guilty for the offence of murder under section 302 IPC and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life and to pay fine of Rs. 5000/-, in default, to suffer simple imprisonment for two years more in the aforesaid case.

2. Being aggrieved by and dissatisfied with such judgment and order of conviction, and sentence the accused/convict has filed the present appeal.

3. The facts leading to the present appeal, in short, are as follows:-

The appellant is the husband of Shefali Debnath, since deceased, and they used to reside in their house at Petcher Nallah APWD colony.

4. In the night of 3rd March, 2010, there was massive fire in the house of the appellant and the appellant's wife Shefali sustained severe burn injuries in the fire, and on her screaming, the local people came to the house, doused the fire, rescued Shefali, called for an ambulance, and shifted Shefali to the local hospital. I