1. These three appeals arise from the judgment in Sessions Case No. 13 of 1951 on the file of the Trivandrum Sessions Court. The learned Sessions Judge who tried the case found accused 1, Velayudha Kurup, guilty of causing grievous hurt with a deadly weapon to P.W. 1, Krishna Pillai and he was accordingly sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 18 months Appeal 23 is against that conviction and sentence Accused 2, Sreedharan Pillai, has been found to have caused the death of P.W. 1's niece, Kunhilekshmi Amma by stabbing her with a pen-knife and also grievous hurt with the same weapon to P.W. 1. In respect of the former offence, namely, murder, he has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life and in respect of the latter to undergo rigorous imprisonment for 18 months. These sentences are to run concurrently. His appeal is Criminal Appeal No 24. The remaining appeal, namely, Criminal Appeal 25, has been preferred by accused 3, Madhavan Nair against his conviction and sentence for causing grievous hurt with a deadly weapon to P. W.1. The sentence against him is the same as that passed against accused 1 and 2 for causing grievous hurt with