JUDGMENT

Dr. S. Muralidhar, CJ. - This appeal is directed against the order dated 17th December 2013, passed by the learned 1st Additional Sessions Judge, Puri in S.T. Case No.37/365 of 2013/2012, convicting the Appellant for the offence punishable under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sentencing him to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for seven years with a fine of Rs.5000/- and in default to undergo RI for a period of six months and further convicting the Appellant for the offence punishable under Section 302 of IPC and sentencing him to undergo RI for life with a fine of Rs.5000/- and in default to undergo RI for six months. Both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

2. By the impugned judgment, the trial Court found the Appellant guilty of raping and murdering by setting on fire an adolescent minor girl of 15 years.

3. The case of the prosecution as spoken to by Ranjana Swain (PW-1), the mother of the deceased, was that the deceased was in friendly terms with the Appellant which was disapproved by the family members of the deceased. They asked the deceased to discontinue her relationship with the Appellant despite which, the deceased was stated to be still