The conviction of the appellant for murder was upheld based on credible eyewitness testimony and corroborative medical evidence, confirming the appellant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

JUDGMENT :

M.Jothiraman, J.

Challenging the judgment dated 19.08.2019 passed in S.C.No.14 of2018 on the file of the Principal District and Sessions Court, Thiruvarur, the appellant has preferred the above appeal.

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

2.1 PW1-Sudha, who is the wife of the deceased Saravanan, deposed that she knows the appellant/accused; on 01.08.2017, on the 16^th day death ceremony of Durai took place on the next street of her village, where, one Kasinathan demanded money for nonvegetarian feast from her husband and the said Kasinathan and her husband had quarreled, during which, her husband fell on the roof of the hut of one Marimuthu (A1) and Gomathi (A2) opposite to the house of Durai; A2 scolded her husband in filthy language, in turn, her husband told A2 that he has no dispute with her and as to why she is speaking in unparliamentary words and pushed her down; at that time, she and her mother-in-law (PW2) convinced her husband and took him to their house; on the same day, around 6.00 p.m., PW1 along with her husband and mother-in-law (PW2) went to the house of one Shankar, who is the Village Head, in order to convey the above said incident of quarrel and their children also accompanied them; at that time, A1 and A2 waylaid them; A2 instigated A1 by saying that her husband only pushed her down and should not leave him. At that time, A1 stabbed her husband with a knife (M.O.1) on his right side chest, pulled out the knife (M.O.1) and fled away towards western side; on their scream, the Village Head and other people gathered; her husband succumbed to injuries on the spot and they took him to Thiruvarur Government Medical College and Hospital in an ambulance; Nannilam police personnel came to her place and enquired about the incident; on her narration, an inmate of her village written the complaint (Ex.P1). PW1 identified her signature found in the complaint (Ex.P1) and she also identified the knife (M.O.1).

2.2 PW2-Vasantha, mother of Saravanan, deposed that two years before, on one day, she along with her son and daughter-in-law (PW1)attended the 16^th day death ceremony of Durai, where, one Kasinathan shouted at her son for not giving money for nonvegetarian feast; they pushed each other, due to which, her son fell on the roof of A2’s hut and therefore, A2 shouted at her son and at that time, her son pushed A2 by keeping his hands on her chest; she and her daughter-in-law (PW1) convinced her son and took him to their house; on the same day around 6.00 p.m., she along with her son and daughter-in-law (PW1) went to the house of Shankar (PW3), Village Head, to convey the incident occurred with A2; PW4, who is the son of Saravanan, also accompanied them; at that time, having seen Saravanan, A2 instigated A1 by saying that he only pushed her down and should not leave him; at that time, A1 stabbed her son with a knife (M.O.1) on his right side chest, pulled out the knife (M.O.1) and fled; they shouted and cried and found that her son had died on spot; the village people, who gathered, took her son in an ambulance to Thiruvarur Government Medical College and Hospital.

2.3 PW3-Shankar, Village Head, deposed that during the year 2017, 16^th day ceremony of one Durai had taken place and at that time, nonvegetarian meals were cooked at the cooking shed; while he was collecting gift money, Kasinathan and Saravanan involved in a scuffle, due to which, Saravanan fell on the roof of A2’s hut situated in the opposite side; A2 looked at Saravanan and shouted at him in filthy language and asked him as to how did he fall on her house and bet him with a chappal and so, Saravanan pushed her; on the same day around 6.00 p.m., he heard noise at his doorstep and went there and saw A2 telling A1 that Saravana