A school going girl, aged hardly 14 years, while she was alone at home, was mercilessly killed by slitting her neck by knife and was robbed of her cell phone. The prosecution alleges that the appellant herein (A.2) and one Yugadityan (A.1) are the perpetrators of the crime. The trial Court convicted both the accused (vide Judgment dated 21.07.2016). The first accused has not made any appeal so far. The appellant/A.2 challenges the said conviction and sentence in this appeal.

2. The case of the prosecution in brief, is as follows:

(a) P.W.1 is the father of the victim girl - Ms.Thejashree. P.W.1 is residing at Vanniya nagar, Azhagapuram, Salem. P.W.2 Harini is the elder sister of the deceased. P.W.2 was formerly studying B.E (Civil Engineering) Course in a private Engineering College known as “Mahindra Engineering College”. The deceased was studying in a local school. A.1 was a co-student in the same college with P.W.2 and was doing B.E. Aeronautic Engineering Course. A.1 was a Senior Student. Since P.W.2 and A.1 were studying in the same college, they were known to ea