K. Vinod Chandran, J.

1. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. This is a classical case of such fire, fiercer than that of the purgatory, consuming the lover and also the avenger, but not even singeing the one from whom such fire emanated.

2. The appellant (A1) was charged along with three others with the offence of conniving with the other accused and murdering the deceased who had jilted his aunt (A3), on the eve of the betrothal of the deceased. The offence as charged by the prosecution occurred on 11.1.2003 at 8.15 p.m. The 1st accused along with three others being his cousin (A2) and aunts (A3 and A4) with the common intention of murdering one Suresh, detained the latter and committed his murder with a chopper, causing 23 ante-mortem injuries on the deceased, was the allegation. The 1st accused alone was charged with the overt act of inflicting the injuries on the deceased leading to his death. The other accused were arraigned for the common intention they nurtured to commit the said offence. The accused were thus committed for the offences punishable under Sections 341 and 302 read with Sections 114 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code. On committal, the Sessions Court f