Acquittal by the Supreme Court after 29 years; overturns 1995 Murder Convictions.

Supreme Court Overturns Murder Convictions in 1995 Case. In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has overturned the murder convictions of Hanna and others in a case that dates back to 1995. The accused had been convicted by a lower court for the murder of Pappu @ Har Narayan.

Prosecution Case: According to the prosecution, the accused had allegedly assaulted Pappu with various weapons, causing his death. Eyewitness testimonies were presented to support this claim.

Defense Arguments: However, the defense challenged the reliability of the eyewitness accounts. They argued that the witnesses had provided inconsistent and unreliable evidence. Additionally, they contended that the prosecution had failed to establish a clear motive for the alleged crime.

Court's Findings: The Supreme Court conducted a thorough examination of the evidence presented in the case. The court found that the testimony of PW-1, the mother of the deceased, was unreliable. PW-1 had initially not supported the prosecution's case but later changed her testimony. The court dismissed her later testimony as being coerced by the police.

The court also noted that the testimony of PW-3, the brother of the deceased, contained material omissions and contradictions. For example, PW-3 had claimed that his brother was killed near his shop, but the scene of the crime sketch did not show any shop in that location.

Failure of Motive: The prosecution had alleged that the murder was motivated by a financial dispute. However, the court found that this claim was not supported by sufficient evidence. PW-3 had initially stated that the accused owed his family money, but later retracted this statement.

Coercion by Police: The court identified a pattern of coercion by the police in the case. PW-1 had claimed that she was threatened by the police to change her testimony. Additionally, PW-3 had initially stated that he had not seen the murder, but later changed his testimony after the police allegedly threatened him.

Acquittal: Based on these findings, the Supreme Court concluded that the prosecution had failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. The court acquitted Hanna and others of the murder charges and set aside their convictions and sentences.

This case highlights the importance of reliable evidence and the protection of witnesses from coercion. It also serves as a reminder that even in cases where the prosecution presents a strong case, the judiciary remains vigilant in ensuring that justice is served.

Case No.: Criminal Appeal Nos. 467/2024 & 468/2024
Judgment Date: May 01, 2024
Between: Hanna and others vs The State of U.P
Charge: Murder and culpable homicide
Find Judgement here