JUDGMENT :

P.V.BALAKRISHNAN, J.

Criminal Appeal No.704/2018 is filed by the 1st accused and Criminal Appeal No.1133/2018 is filed by the 2nd accused, challenging their conviction and sentence imposed under Sections 120B and 302 IPC in S.C.No.111/2011 by the Special Court (SPE/CBI)-I, Ernakulam.

The Prosecution Case:

2. The accused, five in number, entered into a criminal conspiracy to exterminate deceased Balakrishnan, who had married the daughter of the 5th accused Abubacker Haji without the consent of their family. Abubacker Haji was opposed to the marriage of his daughter Rasina with the deceased Balakrishnan and he was of the view that it brought dishonour to his family and community at large. Abubacker Haji decided to eliminate Balakrishnan once and for all and he engaged the first accused for the same. The first accused befriended Balakrishnan and with the help of the approver Abdul Hameed, got in touch with the second accused, who agreed to help the first accused for monetary consideration. Accordingly, at 10.30 pm on 18.09.2001, the first and second accused committed murder of the said Balakrishnan by stabbing him with a knife on his neck and body inside a Maruti car bearing re