In a gripping court case, the High Court of Bombay at Nagpur bench upheld life sentences for several individuals involved in a brutal murder in Yavatmal. Let's break down what happened and why the court ruled the way it did.
On October 31, 2017, a group of young men, armed with swords and knives, attacked Anil Thool and his friend Premraj Shende in Yavatmal. Anil was chased into a house and killed, while Premraj was seriously injured. The police quickly arrested the accused, including Rohit Vijay Onkar and others, based on eyewitness accounts.
"The attackers chased him and entered the house and killed him by hitting him with the weapons they had."
The accused faced multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, and being part of a group committing a crime. The court found them guilty and sentenced them to life in prison and additional time for other charges.
Key testimonies came from Shalini Thool, Anil's mother, and Premraj, the injured friend. They identified the attackers and described the brutal assault. Despite some inconsistencies, the court found their accounts believable.
"Her evidence further shows that, near the shop... all the accused went there and attacked them with the weapons they had."
Medical reports confirmed multiple stab wounds on Anil, aligning with witness statements. Forensic analysis linked blood on the recovered weapons to the victims, strengthening the prosecution's case.
"The exact cause of death was hemorrhagic shock due to multiple stab and chop wounds."
The defense argued that the evidence was inconsistent and that the accused were falsely implicated. However, the court, led by Judges Urmila Joshi Phalke and Nandesh S. Deshpande, dismissed these claims, emphasizing the consistency of witness testimonies and the corroborative medical evidence.
"The prosecution has proved the guilt of the accused unmistakably, showing they were part of the group committing the crime..."
While the appeal partly succeeded in removing the conspiracy charge, the court maintained the life sentences for murder and other charges. This case underscores the importance of thorough investigation and credible witness testimonies in securing justice.
For a detailed look into the judgment, you can refer to the full court document.
