JUDGMENT :

P.N. PRAKASH, J.

1. These appeals are directed against the judgment of conviction and sentence dated 27.08.2012 passed by the Additional District and Sessions Judge No. III, Tirupathur in S.C. No. 301 of 2009.

2. This is a case of a suicide pact, en masse, by a family. Annapoorna (D3), aged 20 years, Archana (D4), aged 18 years and Swapna (D5), aged 15 years were the children of Subramani (D1), aged 54 years and Kamatchi (D2), aged 44 years. This family was earlier living in their natal home in Sorakkayalnatham village in Vellore District. The brother of Subramani (D1) filed a civil case against him and so, he shifted the family to Ellapalli village sometime in December 2002. Subramani (D1) was working as Tamil teacher in Jangalapuram Government High School. His wife Kamatchi (D2) was a home maker. At the time of the incident, Annapoorna (D3) and Archana (D4) were doing their graduation in the Government Arts College for Women, Walajapet and Swapna (D5) had completed her 10th standard.

2.1. Subramani (D1) bought a piece of land in Ellapalli Village from Gopal (PW-2) and