P. SHANMUGAM, J.

The appeal is against the judgment of the learned Sessions Judge, Thanjavur, finding the accused guilty of the charges under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and imposing upon him a sentence of life imprisonment. The accused is alleged to have poured kerosene on the deceased Mrs. Bakkiyam, wife of Ganesan and set her on fire at 10.30 am on 16.6.1994 at Mariappa Chettiar Colony, Kondikulam, consequent on which she died at 6 pm on 18.6.1994.

2. The case of the prosecution is that Mrs. Bakkiyam was living with her husband Ganesan, a lorry loadman and two children at Mariappa Chettiar Colony, Kondikulam. The deceased was aged 27 years at that time and was married to Ganesan ten years since. About ten days prior to the date of occurrence, while Mrs. Bakkiyam was working in the sugarcane field belonging to Nadimuthu Chettiar of Pattukottai, the accused, who was working with Nadimuthu Chettiar as his Accountant, called her for an illicit intercourse. Mrs. Bakkiyam, while refusing to concede to the demand, scolded him and also informed her husband Ganesan about the same. Coming to know of this, the accused set fire to the haystack belonging to Nadimuthu Chett