The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Bench showers mercy on woman convict

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Thursday, Jun 26, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Bench showers mercy on woman convict

Staff Reporter

Commutes her sentence from seven to three years

MADURAI: The Madras High Court Bench here on Wednesday showered mercy on a 35-year-old woman convict who trespassed into a house at Thattarmadam in Tuticorin district, strangled the landlady to unconsciousness and decamped with 28 sovereigns of gold jewellery.

Partly allowing a criminal appeal filed by her against the conviction, Justice A. Selvam commuted the seven years rigorous imprisonment imposed on her by the trial court to three and a half years which she had already undergone.

“Considering the fact that that the appellant is a first time offender and also considering the period already undergone by her, this court is of the view that the period already undergone by her would be sufficient to be treated as punishment,” he said.

Pointing out that the woman was let out on bail, granted by the High Court in March 2007 while admitting her appeal petition, the Judge said that she need not be incarcerated again. However, he confirmed the conviction and said that there was ample evidence to prove the guilt of the convict.

According to the police, the appellant entered a house in the locality in the guise of seeking drinking water on the afternoon of April 4, 2002.

The landlady was busy watching television when the offender sneaked in quietly and strangled her with a towel to unconsciousness. Thereafter, the victim was relieved of the 32 gram gold chain worn by her. A few more gold jewels and around Rs.80,000 in cash were also lifted from the locker inside the house. The police arrested the accused a few days later and recovered the stolen property based on her confession.

The trial court, on April 20, 2004, convicted the woman under Sections 450 (House trespass in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment for life) and 394 (voluntarily causing hurt in committing robbery) of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced her to undergo three years and seven years of rigorous imprisonment respectively. The sentences were to run concurrently.

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