Ramakrishnan, J. - There were three accused before the learned Sessions Judge of Tiruchirappalli division in S.C. No. 107 of 1968. Periakkal, accused 1 was charged and convicted of the offence of abduction in order to commit murder under section 364, Indian Penal Code, and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for three years. Accused 3 Samiappan, brother’s son of the first accused, was convicted under section 302 read with section 34, Indian Penal Code, and sentenced to be hinged by neck till he is dead. He was also convicted under section 201, Indian Penal Code, for concealing evidence regarding murder and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for two years. Accused 2 was acquitted of all the charges. Accused 1 an d 3 have appealed against their conviction and sentence. The sentence of death imposed on accused 3 in also before us for confirmation.

The deceased Rasammal was a Harijan woman. She married Raman P.W. 16 about 10 years prior to the occurrence. Rasammal and her husband fell out, because he refused to get divided from his brother, as desired by her. This quarrel led her to abandon her husband’s roof. She returned to the house of her parents Pichaikaran Moopan and Palayee, P.W.

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