M. Sasidharan Nambiar, J.

1. The accused in Session Case No.48 of 1998 on the file of the Additional Sessions Court, Kalpetta is the appellant. He was convicted for the offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life for the murder of his wife, Vijayalakshmi, daughter of PW3, Meenakshi. Prosecution alleges that the appellant, deceased Vijayalakshmi and their son, PW2, Vineesh, were residing in a house situated near to the maternal house of the deceased were P.W.3 and P.W.1, brother of the deceased, were residing. Apart from PW2 the appellant has an elder daughter in the deceased. The prosecution case is that on 30.7.1995, deceased Vijayalikshmi had come to the house of her mother and prepared rice flour and returned back to her house at about 2 pm. At about 3.30 p.m. only the deceased, appellant and PW2 were inside their house. PW3 heard the cry of Vijayalikshmi that she is being killed and P.W.3 rushed to the house of the deceased. PW3 found that the deceased was engulfed in flames. The appellant was coming out of the house through the northern kitchen door. Hearing the cry of P.W.3, neighbours also rushed to the