MADAN B. LOKUR, J.

( 1 ) THESE are two appeals by a total of three Appellants directed against the judgment and order dated 14th March, 2002 passed by the learned Additional sessions Judge in Sessions Case No. 63/2001. By the impugned judgment and order, the Appellants were held guilty of an offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code (for short the IPC) for committing the murder of Laxmi and for an offence punishable under Section 307 of the IPC read with Section 34 thereof for attempting to murder Radhey Shyam. Subsequently, by an order dated 15th March, 2002 all the Appellants were sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life in respect of the offence of murder and to undergo imprisonment of seven years for the offence of attempt to murder. A fine was also imposed in respect of both the convictions.

( 2 ) AT the outset one rather disturbing feature of the case may be mentioned: the main witness for the prosecution, that is, PW-12 Radhey Shyam was examined on 5th May, 1992 but his cross-examination was completed after a gap of seven years on 4th June, 1999. The Supreme Court has time and again required the expeditious conclusion of a trial b