A.S.VENKATACHALAMOORTHY, J.

The appellant/accused was tried by the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Vellore for the charge under Section 302 I.P.C., in S.C.No.86 of 2000 with reference to the murder of one Mallika on the night of 7.12.1999 near Pudupadi Palar Dam. The trial Court found him guilty as charged and sentenced him to undergo life imprisonment and also imposed a fine of Rs.3,000/- by its Judgment dated 3rd October, 2000. The accused, being aggrieved by the said Judgment has preferred the present appeal.

2. The prosecution, to substantiate its case, examined PWs.1 to 25 and marked Exs.P-1 to P-31 and produced Mos.1 to 20.

3. The case of the prosecution based on the above evidence let in, in a nutshell is as under.

(a) PW-13 Kanniammal belongs to the village called Vijalapuram, Vallipattu and has five daughters. The deceased, who is one among them, was married to PW-14 Beeman of Poongulam village and they have three children. The deceased developed illicit intimacy with one Asokan, who is a neighbouring land owner, and a close relative of her husband. She left PW-14 and joined the said Asokan and they started living as husband and wife.

(b) The accused Umashankar i