In a recent court judgment, the analysis of intention in a fatal assault case unveils the complexity of criminal law. The court’s scrutiny of the circumstances, manner of assault, and nature of injuries offers a compelling insight into the legal determination of intent. Join us as we explore the fine line between knowledge and intent in cases of fatal violence, as elucidated by the court’s legal analysis.
Facts
- The appellant challenges his conviction under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and the life imprisonment sentence upheld by the High Court.
- Leave has been granted for the appeal.
- The appellant also suffered injuries during the incident.
Also Read: Ensuring Fair and Thorough Police Investigations: A Legal Perspective
Arguments
- Two independent witnesses were not examined.
- Serological report on blood group matching not established.
- Deceased succumbed on the spot.
- Assault made on the head showing intention to cause death.
- Appellant cannot claim self-defence as he was the aggressor.
- Appellant relies on specific cases to argue related witnesses’ evidence validity.
- Recovery of the lathi not properly proved.
- Deceased did not die immediately but in the hospital.
- The assault on the victim was spur of the moment with no premeditation.
Also Read: Presumption of Genuineness in Legal Documents Case
Analysis
- The circumstances, manner of assault, nature and number of injuries must be considered together to determine intention or knowledge.
- Assault occurred on 23.11.2001 at around 02:00 P.M. while the deceased was harvesting crops.
- The appellant used a lathi to assault the deceased on the head.
- Deceased passed away in the hospital the following day at about 07:45 P.M. due to injuries.
- Post mortem report by Doctor, P.W. 13, revealed contusions and fractures on the parietal portion of the head, deemed dangerous to life.
- Other injured witnesses confirmed the appellant also sustained injuries during the incident.
- High Court found that the assault was not premeditated but a result of a heated exchange over a land dispute.
- Despite the lack of premeditation, the High Court upheld the appellant’s sentence under Section 302, IPC due to the resulting death.
- Presence of a civil land dispute between the parties was noted.
- In cases of head assault with a lathi, determining intention to cause death or knowledge of likely death is a matter of fact.
- The lathi, a common village item, was used as a weapon in this incident, although it is not inherently a weapon but can be used as one.
- In cases where the accused caused fatal injuries with a non-deadly weapon in a spur-of-the-moment act without premeditation, the conviction was altered to a lesser offense under Section 304 Part II of the Indian Penal Code.
- Examples include cases where the accused dealt one or two blows on the head of the deceased resulting in death after a few days, but without clear intention to cause such fatal injuries.
- In such circumstances, the courts observed that the accused may have had the knowledge that their actions were likely to cause death but did not have the specific intent for murder.
- The judgments mentioned instances where convictions under Section 302 IPC were set aside and instead the accused were convicted under Section 304 Part II IPC, leading to reduced sentences of imprisonment ranging from five to seven years.
- The decision in the cases of Laltu Ghosh and S. Rayappa regarding credibility of witnesses is deemed irrelevant to the current issue at hand.
- The conviction of the appellant is changed from Section 302 IPC to Section 304 Part II IPC.
Also Read: Analysis of Common Intention in Assault Case
Decision
- The appeal is allowed.
- The appellant is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless wanted in any other case.
- The appellant has already undergone the maximum period of sentence prescribed under the same.
- The appellant has been in custody since 2004.
- The appellant was sentenced to seven years.
Case Title: JUGUT RAM Vs. THE STATE OF CHHATTISGARH (2020 INSC 547)
Case Number: Crl.A. No.-000616-000616 / 2020
