(Per M. Karpagavinayagam, J.)

The appellants 1 to 3 were convicted for the offence under Section 302 read with 34 of I.P.C. and sentenced to undergo life imprisonment in S.C. No. 69 of 1989 on the file of I Additional Sessions Court, Coimbatore for having attacked and murdered the deceased Palanisamy with the sticks and stone on 12/ 13-8-1989 at 1.00 a.m. at Saderpalayam Village.

2. Challenging the above conviction and sentence the appellants have filed this appeal.

3. The factual matrix which lead to the conviction of the appellants, is briefly stated hereunder:––

"(a) The first appellant Murugan is the father of Rasan, the second appellant and Sarasal, the third appellant. The deceased Palanisamy is the husband of Sarasal, the third appellant. P.W. 4 Raman is the father of the deceased Palanisamy. P.W. 1 Ayyasamy is the husband of P.W. 2 Palaniammal. All these persons belong to Saderpalayam village.

(b) P.W. 4 Raman is owning a house and a garden and punja lands in the same village. He is staying in the said house along with his wife. Just opposite to their house, the house of P.Ws. 1 and 2 is situated. They are weavers by profession. The deceased Palanisamy and his wife Saras