This appeal has been filed against the sentence and order passed in S.C. No. 24 of 2014 dated 06.01.2017 by the learned I Additional Sessions Judge, Coimbatore.

2. The gist of the prosecution case is as under:

[a] Ramakrishnan [P.W.1] aged about 75 years, retired Superintendent of Government Engineering College was residing with his wife Kamala [P.W.2] aged 65 years at 56, R/2 Lakshmi House, 3rd street, Sivanandapuram, Coimbatore. On 26.09.2012, around 12.30 noon, when the old couple were at home, three persons entered into their house and one of them throttled Kamala's [P.W.2] neck with a knife in hand and the other held her tight brandishing a knife and the third one was holding chilly powder. They attempted to cut the thali chain that was worn by her and when she started making hue and cry, her husband Ramakrishnan [P.W.1] came to her rescue. The trio were unsuccessful in relieving the gold chain from Kamala [P.W.2], but after a brief scuffle, they pushed the couple down and fled away in a motorcycle bearing registration no.TN-38-BM-6283.

[b] After getting relieved from the shock, Ramakrishnan [P.W.1] lodged a complaint [Ex.P.1], based on which, the Sub-Inspector of Polic