SC Acquits Five Accused In 27-Yr-Old Murder Case [Read Judgment]

The Supreme Court has acquitted five accused in a 27-year-old murder case on the basis of serious discrepancies that arose in the evidence produced by the prosecution.It was alleged that a land dispute, which had erupted in February 1991, had become the cause of enmity between the victims and the accused.A quarrel had broken out. The Supreme Court has acquitted five accused in a 27-year-old murder case on the basis of serious discrepancies that arose in the evidence produced by the prosecution. Based on the inconsistent evidence of prosecution witnesses with that of medical evidence and other probable circumstances, the trial court concluded that the prosecution could not prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt and, therefore, acquitted the accused from the offences charged against them. Taking note of the various discrepancies of the evidence, the bench held: “Once there is a clear contradiction between the medical and the ocular evidence coupled with severe contradictions in the oral evidence, clear latches in investigation, then the benefit of doubt has to go to the accused.” Allowing the appeal of the accused and setting aside the judgment of the high court, the bench held: “The Court should always make an endeavour to find the truth.