Challenge in this appeal is to the judgment of the High Court dismissing the appeal filed by the appellants. The appeal was directed against the judgment dated 31.8.2004 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge convicting the appellants for offence and sentencing each to undergo imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Rs. 2000/- with default stipulation. Background facts in a nutshell are as follows: On 27th December, 2000, at about 11.00 a.m., one P1, brother of P2 (hereinafter referred to as the 'deceased') made a complaint to the officer in charge of the Police Station that at about 6 a.m. on the same day P3 s/o P4, P5 S/o P6 and P7 s/o P3 along with two others assaulted his brother P2 with spears thereby severely injuring him while he was ploughing the field. He also stated that deceased-P2 was taken to the hospital for treatment but he died there. Accordingly, a case was registered. On 4th January, 2001, nearly a week after the alleged incident, the statements of  PW-1 and PW-7, the alleged eyewitnessesm were recorded by the Judicial Magistrate. On 13th May, 2002 charge sheet was filed against the appellant herein. By order dated 27th October, 2003, the case was committed by the learned SDJM(S), to the Court of the Sessions Judge, Jothat for trial of offences. On 13th November, 2003, the learned Additional Sessions Judge, Jorhat framed charge. Trial Court, as noted above, convicted the accused, which was affirmed by the High Court.