JUDGMENT :

K.V. JAYAKUMAR, J.

This Criminal Appeal is directed against the judgment of the learned 1^st Additional District & Sessions Judge, Manjeri in S.C. No.409 of 2013.

2. The appellant/accused, Santha Kumari @ Santha, is the sole accused in this case. The offences alleged against the appellant/accused were under Sections 449, 302, 394 and 201 of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code. The learned Sessions Judge, as per the impugned judgment, convicted and sentenced the accused to imprisonment for life under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

The prosecution case

3. The prosecution case, in a nutshell is that, on 04.03.2013, in between 1 p.m and 2 p.m, the accused, Santhakumari, trespassed into the house of the deceased Kunjilakshmi Amma, with the criminal intention to rob gold ornaments worn by her, inflicted 28 injuries using MO-1, a chopper, murdered Kunjilakshmi Amma and robbed 4.5 sovereigns of gold ornaments. It is alleged that the accused had sold the aforesaid gold ornaments and discharged her debts and other liabilities. It is further alleged that the appellant/accused washed MO-1 chopper and hid it, so as to cause the disappearance of evidence.

4. On the basis of the FIS lodged