Somasundaram, J.-The appellant in this case has been convicted by the learned Sessions Judge of Ramanathapuram division for the murder of his wife, Manikki, at about 7 a.m. on 7th March, 1955, in the cart-track north of Selliamman Koil Oorani in Kallangudi village and sentenced to death.

The occurrence is stated to have taken place on the cart-track while the said Manikki was coming, taking water from Selliamman Koil Oorani. The appellant married this Manikki in or about June, 1954. There was great disparity in age between the appellant and his wife, the deceased. The appellant was aged about 40 years while the deceased was only about 16. The mother of the deceased was unwilling to give her daughter in marriage to this appellant but P.W.8 the paternal uncle of the deceased and two other persons, P.Ws.9 and 10 who were stated to be the friends of the family were responsible for the marriage of the deceased with the appellant. The mother did not even attend the marriage showing thereby her strong disapproval of it. The appellant had by his first wife two sons one of whom is P.W.12 in the case. The deceased and the appellant got on well for two or three months. Later the appellant star

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