IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & THE HONOURABLE MRS. JUSTICE M.C.HARI RANI THURSDAY, THE 4TH SEPTEMBER 2008 / 13TH BHADRA 1930 CRL.A.No. 278 of 2005() ----------------------- SC.1185/2003 of ADDITIONAL SESSIONS COURT (ADHOC)-II, KOLLAM CP.106/2003 of JUDL.MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS-II, KOLLAM .................... APPELLANT: ----------- FRANCIS @ GOULY, S/O.BENCHAMIN, C.NO. 8826, C.P., TRIVANDRUM 695 012. BY ADV. SRI.M.R.JAYAPRASAD(STATE BRIEF) RESPONDENT: ------------- STATE OF KERALA, REP. BY A PUBLIC PROSECUTOR. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, JAI GEORGE THIS CRIMINAL APPEAL HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 04/09/2008 ALONG WITH CRA NO. 281 OF 2005, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: K. BALAKRISHNAN NAIR & M.C.HARI RANI, JJ. ---------------------------------------- Crl.Appeal Nos.278 & 281 OF 2005 ---------------------------------------- Dated this the 4th day of September, 2008 J U D G M E N T ~~~~~~~~~~~ Balakrishnan Nair, J. These appeals are filed by the second and first accused respectively in S.C.No.1185/2003 on the files of the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Adhoc-II, Kollam. They were found guilty of the offence punishable under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the I..P.C and sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs.50,000/- each. In default of payment of fine, they were to undergo rigorous imprisonment for one year. It was also ordered to award a compensation of Rs.50,000/- under Section 357(1) of the Cr.P.C., to the children of deceased Susheela, out of the fine amount deposited or realised from the accused. 2. The prosecution case in brief is as follows: The deceased Susheela and PW1 Rajalekshmy were sex workers walking the streets of Kollam town. The accused 1 and 2 are criminals, who make a living by taking a portion of the money received by the said women. The accused 1 and 2 took the said Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 2 women on the night of 9.1.2002 in an autorickshaw to the scene of occurrence, where the above women waited for customers for some time. On that day no customers were available. The accused demanded money from the said Susheela, who declined to pay the amount. Immediately, the accused by use of force took an amount of Rs.450/- kept by Susheela. She objected to the taking of money from her and abused them using filthy language. Thereupon the accused beat and kicked her. The first accused using his folded knee kicked on her chest. She was fatally injured and fell down. They stopped an autorickshaw passing through the road. PW1 and the two accused took Susheela to Kollam District Hospital. In the casuality, the doctor who examined her pronounced that she was dead. For the above incident the accused were charged-sheeted for the offence of murder and also for the offence under Section 394 of the I.P.C., for allegedly removing the ear-rings from the body of Susheela when she was lying unconscious. 3. The evidence in this case consists of the oral evidence of P.Ws.1 to 17 and Exts.P1 to P18, which were marked through the prosecution witnesses. M.Os.1 to 12 were also produced and marked. Exts.D1 to D5 and D5(a) were marked from the side of the Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 3 defence. They were the relevant portions of the statement of the witnesses recorded under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C., which were at variance with their versions before the court. The accused were questioned under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. They denied the incriminating circumstances in the evidence put to them. Though the first accused claimed that he will file a separate statement, the records would show that he has not filed any such statement. The second accused while questioned under Section 313 Cr.P.C., stated that when he was returning after seeing a film, he saw a group of people standing by the side of the road. Later, he came to know that a woman was lying there injured. As a good samaritan, he along with the first accused and PW1 took the injured lady to the hospital. The doctor who examined her, pronounced her dead. They were falsely implicated in this case, it was stated by the second accused. The learned Additional Sessions Judge after hearing both sides, found the accused guilty of the offence under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the I.P.C., and imposed the punishments mentioned earlier. 4. The learned counsel for the defence who appeared in both these cases, raised the following points before us: (1) There is no reliable evidence to show as to who inflicted the fatal Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 4 injuries on the deceased. The post-mortem certificate and the evidence of the doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination would show that injury No.4 was the cause of death of Susheela. PW1, who was supposed to prove the case of the prosecution that it was the accused who caused the injury, did not support the prosecution case. PW1 stated that on that night she slept with the first accused and Susheela slept with the second accused. When she woke up from sleep, she saw that Susheela was lying flat on her face with injuries and soaked in blood. She was declared hostile to the prosecution. The evidence of PW1 will in no way help the prosecution to prove that the accused caused the injuries. (2) The only witness who has spoken to that the injuries were caused by the accused, is PW11. But, he is a chance witness. When a quarrel takes place in a street, the witnesses may be chance witnesses. But, in this case, the version of PW11 does not inspire confidence. He would say that when he saw the accused along with the deceased and PW1 boarding an autorickshaw, he followed them walking and watched the incident by hiding himself behind a post. The said version cannot be believed, it is submitted. If the evidence of PW11 is eschewed from consideration, there is absolutely nothing Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 5 to connect the accused with the commission of the crime. (3) It is submitted that the prosecution has failed to prove the motive. The absence of proof of motive is a serious lacuna in the prosecution case. Finally, it is submitted that even assuming the prosecution case is correct, the accused did not use any weapons to inflict the injuries. They did not prepare for the commission of the offence. Further, they have taken the injured to the hospital also. So, it would show that they have no intention, whatsoever, to cause the death of Susheela. Therefore, even if the case of the prosecution is believed, the offence committed will come only under the second part of Section 304 of the I.P.C., it is submitted. The learned counsel for the appellants pointed out that they were in jail since their arrest and so the imprisonment already suffered will be sufficient punishment, if they are found guilty only under the second part of Section 304. 5. The learned Public Prosecutor submitted that though PW11 is a chance witnesses, the same will not weaken the prosecution case, as the murder took place in a street during night time. A murder in a street will be witnessed only by chance witnesses, who use the street. In this case, PW11, who has previous acquaintance with the persons involved, out of curiosity, Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 6 must have followed them and watched the incident. His evidence is supported by the medical evidence. Further, his version is corroborated by the evidence of PW3. Though PW3 did not witness the incident, regarding other material particulars there is corroboration in the evidence of PW3. The evidence of PW4 also supports the prosecution case, it is pointed out. In fact, the accused in their Section 313 statement admit that it was they who took the injured to the hospital. So, the prosecution has proved whatever it can prove. The last seen theory can also be applied in this case to certain extent, submits the learned Public Prosecutor. PW1 admits, she along with Susheela were in the company of the accused. So, even if PW1 has turned hostile and did not support the prosecution, the above admission of her would show that Susheela was seen without any injuries in the company of the accused. Therefore, with the evidence on record, the appellants were rightly found guilty, it is submitted. 6. Before adverting to the rival contentions, we will refer to the deposition of the relevant witnesses. PW1 Rajalekshmy was a person, who was present at the scene of occurrence along with the accused. She has stated as follows: She knew the deceased Susheela. She and Susheela were friends. PW1 was not having Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 7 any employment. They were having two children each. The children of Susheela were in her house at Mayyanad. She knew the accused also. She does not know about the employment of the accused. She admitted that she along with Suseela used to engage in sex work to earn some money. During the night of 9.1.2002, they were together and were standing near the Parvathi Mill. At about 9'O clock, the accused took them in an autorickshaw to a place where they were to sleep. They reached a pathway going by the side of Vadayattukotta temple. They took food along with the accused and went to a building housing the Telephone Office. She did not see the incident in which Suseela was killed. After taking food, she was sleeping. She and Raju (A1) were roused by A2 telling them that Suseela is sick and she must be taken to the hospital. The Police questioned her thrice. The learned Public Prosecutor with the permission of the Court put leading questions to the witness. PW1 further submitted that she along with Suseela during night time engage in sex work. She knew the accused for the last five years. In the office of the Telephones, the witness and Suseela were sleeping in different places. She was sleeping with Raju. Suseela was sleeping with Francis (A2). When she woke up from sleep, she found Suseela Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 8 lying flat on her face. The accused along with her took Suseela to the hospital in the autorickshaw of PW4, Sidharthan. On reaching the hospital, doctor examined Suseela and declared that she is dead. There were injuries on her stomach and also on the back side of her head. Blood was coming out. She identified the dress worn by the deceased. They were marked as MOs 1 to 5. A string was tied around one hand of Suseela, which was identified and marked as MO6. The yellow string tied around the waste of the deceased was marked as MO7. The artificial hair worn by the deceased was identified and marked as MO8. The broken pieces of the red glass bangles were marked as MO9. The hair pin used by Suseela in her head was marked as MO10 series. She identified the silver anklet worn by her as MO11 series. The artificial chain worn by the deceased around her neck was identified and marked as MO12. The Prosecutor put a specific question to the witness as to who was seen last along with the deceased. She stated that A2 was found along with Suseela. When the said person was seen in the company of Suseela, there was no money with Suseela. She does not know how Suseela happened to be killed. The East Circle Inspector of Police questioned her. Her statement was reduced to writing and read Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 9 over to her. She was threatened and wrong statements were recorded. The Prosecutor put to her the various statements made by her under Section 161 of the Cr.P.C. which support the case of the prosecution. But, she denied having made such statements. (But, strangely, those contradictions were not marked through the witness subject to proof by the Investigating Officer). They went to sleep at about 9.30 PM. The accused did not indulge in illicit activities with them. A specific question was put to her, why the accused are coming during night time. She did not answer. The witness was cross-examined on behalf of accused 1 and 2. But, she did not say anything about the incident in which the deceased was fatally injured. During cross-examination, the defence marked Exhibits D1 and D2 which were the contradictions in her deposition before the Court with reference to her statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. 7. PW2 is a person doing sundry work around Kollam District Hospital and earn his living. He was present at the time of inquest. He is also attached to a 'thattukada' in the neighbourhood of the hospital. He said that he knew Suseela, but did not know PW1 Rajalakshmi. He was examined to prove that he found Suseela in the company of the accused at 11 PM on Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 10 9.1.2002. Since he did not support the said case of the prosecution, he was declared hostile and cross-examined. But the prosecution did not mark any of the contradictions in his statement. The defence marked Exhibits D3 and D3(a), which are the contradictions in his deposition with reference to his statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. 8. PW3 is doing security work. He is in charge of the handcarts belonging to Salam, which are kept in the place opposite to Pathumma Textiles, which is on the southern side of Parvathi Mill. On the night of 9.1.2002, he heard a cry. The same was heard from a pathway in front of the office of KRS Parcel Service. He was scared on hearing the cries. It was that of a woman. Since he was afraid, he did not go in the direction from where the cries emanated. He was declared hostile by the prosecution with the permission of the court and leading questions were put to him, since he disowned having witnessed the taking of Suseela to the hospital in the autorickshaw of Sidharthan. He said the police did not question him. He stated, he heard “I am being killed, I am being killed”. It was at about 11.30 PM. Though he was extensively cross-examined by the prosecution, he did not admit having seen anything. The defence Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 11 also cross-examined him. 9. PW4 is the autorickshaw driver who carried the injured Suseela on the night of 9.1.2002 to the General Hospital. She was carried from the Junction near the Taluk Office. It was at about 11.45 PM. and 12 in the midnight. PW1 called the autorickshaw. PW1 and the accused took the woman who was lying by the side of the road to the autorickshaw and she was taken to the District Hospital. From the autorickshaw, she was carried to the casualty in a stretcher. Later, he came to know that the said injured lady carried in his autorickshaw died. On coming to know that the woman died, PW1 and accused ran away. After 3-4 days, the accused were shown to him and he recognised them. The police questioned him. The deceased woman and PW1 are street walkers. Both the accused cross- examined him. Exhibit D4 was marked, which was the contradiction in the statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. with reference to his deposition before them. 10. PW5 Rajendran is a relative of Suseela. Her son is with him. The said child was given to him immediately after his birth. PW6 Philomina is the Staff Nurse of Kollam District Hospital. It was she who removed Mos 11 and 12 from the body Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 12 of the deceased. She later, handed over them to the police. PW7 Vijayan is a witness to the mahazar recovering MOS 11 and 12. PW8 Kochukunju is a Peon attached to the Health Inspector's Office. It was he who buried the dead body of Suseela. PW9 was the Village Officer who prepared Exhibit P1 scene plan. PW10 was the doctor, who was working as Assistant Surgeon in the District Hospital on 9.1.2002. On that day, he was on casualty duty. He sent Exhibit P2 intimation to the Sub Inspector of Police. He has stated that the dead body of Suseela was brought to the hospital by a person named Mala Raju (A1). He noted it as stated by PW1. It was he who examined Suseela and confirmed her death. The said witness was cross-examined by both the accused. 11. PW11 Harikrishnan is an important witness for the prosecution. He supported the case of the prosecution fully and stated that he witnessed the incident. The important points in his deposition are the following: He is running a thattukada. He knows Suseela and Rajalakshmi. He knows both the accused. He saw the incident in which Suseela was killed. He does not remember the date. It was about one year back in the month of January. He has gone out from the thattukada to purchase eggs. Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 13 He went by the side of Parvathi Mill. While so, he wanted to drink some liquor. When he went to the bar, he saw a police jeep standing in front of it. At that time, he saw an autorickshaw coming and stopping by the side of Parvathi Mill. In that autorickshaw, there were Mala Raju (A1), Gouly (A2) and Rajalakshmi (PW1). Suseela was also pushed into the autorickshaw and from there they went through a bye-road going through Chamakkada. He was behind that autorickshaw. After going through the bye road, they entered into a very narrow lane. All the persons got out from the autorickshaw and went to the narrow lane. Hiding behind a post, he watched them. He saw them quarreling and kicking . He saw Gouly (A2) taking a small bundle from Suseela. The accused repeatedly kicked and beat Suseela. She was crying 'don't kill me'. Thereafter, he went away. He was very much scared to go there. The time was around 10- 11PM in the night. At that time, Odayil Chandran, PW3 was present in the neighbourhood. The police questioned him and he gave statement. He knew the accused for the last 3-4 years. He also knew Suseela and Rajalakshmi. They used to come near the place where his thattukada was located. In cross-examination of A1, he stated as follows: The statement given by him was taken Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 14 down by the police. The statement was reduced to writing at a place near to Parvathi Mill. He does not remember the date on which he was questioned. He is staying at Anchalummoodu. It is at a distance of 4-5 Kms from District Hospital. He used to come to the thattukada at about 4 PM. He returns during night at 10- 11 PM. He does not go home. He used to stop the work at 11 PM in the night. Thereafter, he will do some help in the thattukada. He used to work during day time also. He goes to sleep by 2-3 PM. He will start work in the morning at 5 AM. His work is drawing water and cleaning the vessels. In his cross- examination, he reiterated that during that night he went to purchase eggs from a provision store near Chamakkada. He denied the suggestion that he was deposing to help the prosecution as requested by the police. Relevant portions of his statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C. and which were at variance with his deposition before the Court were marked on the defence side as Exhibits D5 and D5(a). 12. PW12 is a Police Constable who made arrangements for burying the dead body of Suseela. PW13 is the Police Surgeon who conducted autopsy and prepared Exhibit P3 postmortem certificate. He has given opinion that the death was Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 15 caused due to injury No.4 sustained in the chest. Injury No.4 is described as follows in the postmortem certificate. “4. Contusiion 3x2.5x0.5 cm on the front of middle of chest 9 cm below the upper end of sternum. Underneath the body of sternum was found fractured. The heart showed laceration over an area of 3x2.5x1.5 cm on the front aspect of right ventricle just below the atrioventricular junction. The pericardium contained 200 ml of fluid blood with clot.” 13. He has further stated that those injuries could be caused, if somebody kicks with folded knee on the chest of the deceased. He was cross-examined by the defence. It was suggested that if the deceased fell down and hit a hard object, injury No.4 could be caused. He said that the chances of the same are very rare. 14. PW14 was the Additional Sub Inspector of Police at the relevant time in the Kollam East Police Station. Based on Exhibit P2 intimation given by Dr.S.Anand, the witness registered a crime and sent Exhibit P4 FIR to the Sub Divisional Magistrate's Court. He held the inquest of the body of the deceased on 11.1.2002 in the presence of the witness who identified the deceased. Exhibit P5 is the inquest report prepared by him. Mos Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 16 1 to 7 recovered from the body were identified by him. He also identified Mos 11 and 12 also. He was also cross-examined by the defence. It was he who sent the report to the Magistrate incorporating the offence under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. 15. PW15 was an in-patient at the relevant time in the District Hospital. He is a witness to Exhibit P5 inquest report. PW16 is the Circle Inspector of Police, who took over the investigation of the case on 12.1.2002. He prepared Exhibit P12 scene mahazar. Mos 8 to 10 which were found at the scene were recovered. He filed Exhibit P14 report incorporating the offence under Section 394 IPC against the accused. A1 surrendered before the court on 18.1.2002. The witness obtained his custody for the investigation. A2 was arrested on 2.4.2002. He questioned the witnesses and completed the investigation. He sent Mos 1 to 7 for chemical analysis and Exhibit P18 report obtained showed that Mos 1 to 6 contained human blood. He was cross-examined by the defence and the contradictions in the statements of the witnesses were proved through him. PW17, Senthil Kumar, is a witness to Ext.P12 scene mahzar. Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 17 16. The evidence of PW1 would show that on the night of 9.1.2002 both the accused along with PW1 and Susheela went to the scene of occurrence. The incident took place around 11.p.m. Though PW1 is hostile to the prosecution, it is clear from her evidence that Susheela was seen in the company of the accused before she sustained the fatal injuries. The last seen together theory can be applied in this case, especially, in view of the absence of explanation by the accused as to the cause of injuries sustained by Susheela. The accused and PW1 know what happened. PW1 as mentioned earlier has chosen not to speak the truth. The story told by her appears to be inherently improbable. But, the possibility of PW1 causing the fatal injuries to her friend and colleague Susheela can be safely ruled out. Then the circumstances pin down A1 and A2. The evidence of PW11 will show that A1 and A2 jointly inflicted the injuries found on the body of deceased Susheela. But, his evidence is being attacked as the evidence of a chance witness. The said aspect has been raised before the trial court also. The trial court which had the occasion to see him and hear the witness has chosen to believe him, even though he is a chance witness. When a murder takes place in a street, the witnesses available will be chance Crl.A.Nos.278& 281/2005 18 witnesses. Therefore, for that reason alone, their evidence cannot be discarded, if their version is otherwise reliable. In this case, the evidence of PW11 is corroborated by the evidence of PW1, because she admits the presence of the accused and the deceased at the scene of occurrence. The accused also admit having carried the injured from the scene of occurrence to the hospital. When these versions are read together, we are of the view that the view