Full Judgment Text
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CASE NO.:
Appeal (crl.) 1229 of 2001
Appeal (crl.) 1228 of 2001
PETITIONER:
Bachhitar Singh & Anr.
RESPONDENT:
State of Punjab
DATE OF JUDGMENT: 26/09/2002
BENCH:
Y. K. SABHARWAL & H. K. SEMA.
JUDGMENT:
J U D G M E N T
SEMA, J.
A bizarre tale of gruesome murder in which eight members of two
families - Sukhwant Singh, wife Piar Kaur, daughters Gurjit Kaur (12 years)
& Gogi (9 years) and Bhupinder Singh, wife Joginder Kaur, sons Harjinder
Singh (6 years) & Bhupinder Singh (13 years), were eliminated by the
appellants due to greed to grab the land of the deceased - Sukhwant Singh!
The murder was engineered by the accused Bachittar Singh, the younger
brother of the deceased. The story of ’Pahom’ in Shakespere’s play, "How
much land does a man need?" is being repeated in these proceedings.
Ultimately, the land required is a ’place for funeral pyre and burial’.
Recapitulation of brief facts is necessary. Accused Bachittar Singh
had two brothers deceased Sukhwant Singh and Bhupinder Singh, who
were elder to him. All the three brothers were residents of the Village
Dholewala. Sukhwant Singh and Bhupinder Singh were residing in the
Haveli, whereas accused Bachittar Singh was residing separately in the
Village. On 19.4.1994, at about 6.30 A.M., daily diary report No. 35 was
got recorded by Bachittar Singh, stating therein that during the night time he
had gone to irrigate his land and when he came back at about 3 A.M., he
received information from his wife Rajbir Kaur, that during the night time,
she had heard firing in the Village. Bachittar Singh, however, ignored it. At
about 6.00 AM, his cousin Pipal Singh, s/o Balkar Singh came to his
residence and reported to him that at about 1.00 AM two unknown persons
had murdered Sukhwant Singh, Bhupinder Singh and their families.
Thereafter, Bachittar Singh accompanied by Pipal Singh went to the house
of his brothers and found his brothers Sukhwant Singh and Bhupinder
Singh murdered alongwith their wives and children. Pipal Singh was left
there to guard the dead bodies and Bachittar Singh had gone to the Police
Station to lodge a report and as per his statement daily diary report was
recorded at 6.30 A.M.
As per the prosecution story, when the police was investigating the
case on the spot, Joginder Singh (PW-3) son of Ajaib Singh, resident of
village Mastewala came there and his statement under Section 161 Cr.P.C.
was recorded by the police. In his statement, Joginder Singh stated that his
sister - Piar Kaur was married to Sukhwant Singh about 15 years back.
Sukhwant Singh was not keeping good health as he indulged in excessive
drinking. Since he was not keeping good health, he had given his land on
Theka to his younger brother Bachittar Singh, but Bachittar Singh was not
paying reasonable Theka. As the financial position of Sukhwant Singh was
not sound and they were having difficulties in maintaining the family,
Sukhwant Singh and Piar Kaur consulted PW-3 and other family members
and decided that this time the land would not be given to Bachittar Singh on
Theka. When this fact was brought to the notice of Bachittar Singh, he
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threatened to eliminate both his brothers along with their families and he
refused to vacate the land. It is further stated that on last Thursday (before
the incident) his sister Piar Kaur visited the Village Mastewala and
disclosed that the land was not to be given to Bachittar Singh. Joginder
Singh along with his father and some persons had gone to the Village
Dholewala along with Piar Kaur to have a talk with Bachittar Singh to
vacate the land. It is stated that Bachittar Singh along with Malook Singh
Sarpanch, came to the house of Sukhwant Singh and Bachittar Singh was
requested to vacate the land as Sukhwant Singh had minor children to
support. Since Bachittar Singh was not giving reasonable theka, they
wanted to give the land to Bhupinder Singh to cultivate. Bachittar Singh did
not agree to this and replied that he would not vacate the land at any cost.
Malook Singh Sarpanch supported him stating that the land should remain
with Bachittar Singh and they should not create any problem for him.
Bhupinder Singh also requested Bachittar Singh to vacate the land, but
without any result. Thereafter, Joginder Singh, his father and other members
came back to Village Mastewala with the idea of further consultation in the
matter. On 18.4.1994, Joginder Singh had gone to the house of Sukhwant
Singh to enquire about the welfare of the family and to convene a Panchayat.
After meals, Joginder Singh was sleeping on the roof, when at about 1.00
A.M. he heard firing from the side of deory. Then, he saw Bachittar Singh
empty handed, Malook Singh Sarpanch armed with .12 bore gun and
Amarjit Singh @ Fauji armed with rifle. Malook Singh and Amarjit Singh
were with muffled faces. He saw them in the electric light, which was on in
the courtyard. At the instance of Bachittar Singh, Amarjit Singh @ Fauji
had gone towards the room of Bhupinder Singh along with Bachittar Singh
and got opened the doors. In the meantime, Malook Singh Sarpanch had
gone towards the room of Sukhwant Singh where the inmates of families
were sleeping. The room was locked from inside. Malook Singh had
managed to go inside the room by removing the left plank of the door. At
this time, Joginder Singh heard firing from the rooms of Bhupinder Singh
and Sukhwant Singh. He was empty handed. Out of fear he came down
from the roof from the western side of the Haveli by jumping on the grass
from the house of Sukhwant Singh. Joginder Singh then came straight to his
Village Mastewala and disclosed about the incident to his family members.
Thereafter, Joginder Singh alongwith his family members came back to
Village Dholewala and found the police on the spot. ASI Surinder Mohan
prepared inquest report at 6.30 A.M. and also took into possession one piece
of cloth, thatha, turban, empty cartridges etc. vide recovery memos, attested
by the witnesses.
The accused Bachittar Singh, Amarjit Singh and Malook Singh were
arrested on 24.4.1994 and a black thatha was taken in possession. They
were interrogated and suffered disclosure statements separately. A black
turban and one DBBL gun were recovered in pursuance of the disclosure
statement of Bachittar Singh. Right shoe was recovered in pursuance of
disclosure statement of Amarjit Singh. One kamij (shirt), pyjama and a pair
of shoes were recovered in pursuance of the disclosure statement of Malook
Singh. Recovered articles were taken into possession vide different recovery
memos, attested by the witnesses. After completing all the formalities,
prima facie case was made out and the charges were framed under Sections
460/302 read with Section 34 I.P.C. and Section 30 of the Arms Act. The
accused pleaded not guilty and claimed to be tried. To bring home the guilt
of the accused, the prosecution examined as many as 24 witnesses, namely,
Dr. Charanjit Singh PW1; Dr. Rachhpal Singh PW2; Joginder Singh PW3;
Dr. Gian Singh PW4; Piara Singh PW5; ASI Gurbhej Singh PW6; H.C.
Gurdial Singh PW7; Ajaib Singh PW8; Gurbinder Singh Patwari PW9; SI
Surinder Pal PW10; A.S. Katari, JMIC PW11; Constable Karnail Singh
PW12; Constable Kishan Chand PW13; H.C. Karamjit Singh PW14; SI
Baldev Singh PW15; Surinder Singh,S.P.(H) PW16; Gursewak Singh
Draftsman PW17; MHC Surinder Singh PW18; Pardeep Kumar Ahlmad
PW19; Jagtar Singh PW20; Tarsem Singh, Arms Clerk PW21; ASI
Surinder Mohan PW22; Inspector Balkar Singh PW23; and Jagjit Singh,
Sub Station Operator, PSEB PW24.
The learned trial court, after thoroughly examining prosecution
witnesses and the documents available on record, has come to the conclusion
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that the guilt of the accused has been established by the prosecution beyond
the shadow of doubt. The learned trial court also afforded an opportunity
to the accused of hearing on the quantum of sentence. While awarding
Capital punishment, the following reasons have been assigned:
"Admittedly, all the accused are in custody with effect from
24.4.1994. Bachittar Singh accused is real brother of Sukhwant
Singh and Bhupinder Singh deceased. Sukhwant Singh along
with his wife and two minor children aged about 12 years and 9
years were eliminated. Bhupinder Singh along with his wife
and two minor children aged about 6 years and 13 years were
also eliminated. Land of Sukhwant Singh deceased was on
Theka with Bachittar Singh. Bachittar Singh accused was not
paying normal theka to his brother, whose financial position
was not sound. Instead of helping his brother, Bachittar Singh
was not agreeing to vacate the land. To grab the property
Bachittar Singh hired two persons and eliminated two families.
Accused had no respect for human life. Simply to grab the land
of his brothers minor children were not spared. So, I am of the
opinion that no question of leniency. In the first authority four
persons were killed. Accused was convicted and sentenced to
death. In the second authority Victims were sister-in-law of
accused and her daughter of 8 years. In the case in hand during
night time all the accused, as per story, had gone to the house of
the deceased and eight persons were murdered, i.e. two
complete families were eliminated. Present case is one of the
rarest of the rare cases."
After hearing the parties on quantum of sentence, the learned trial
court awarded Capital punishment to all the accused as under:
Name of the accused
U/S
Sentenced to
Bachittar Singh,
Malook Singh and
Amarjit Singh
460 IPC
Undergo RI for Seven
years each and to pay a
fine of Rs. 10,000/-
each. In default of
payment of fine to
further Undergo RI for
one Year each.
Malook Singh
302 IPC
Awarded death
Sentence for causing
Murder of Sukhwant
Singh, Piar Kaur,
Gurjit Kaur and Gogi
Bachittar Singh &
Amarjit Singh
Amarjit Singh
302/34
IPC
302 IPC
Awarded death
sentence each
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Awarded death
Sentence for Causing
murder of Bhupinder
Singh, Harjinder Singh,
Devinder and Joginder
Kaur.
Bachittar Singh and
Malook Singh
Bachittar Singh
302/34
IPC
30 Arms Act
Awarded death
Sentence each
To undergo RI for six
Months.
On appeal, the conviction and the sentence awarded to all the
accused was affirmed by the High Court and hence these appeals by special
leave.
PW-3 Joginder Singh is the sole eye witness. A perusal of the
judgment of the trial court as well as the High Court would clearly show that
both the courts examined the veracity of this witness and accepted his
testimony as natural, truthful and reliable. The conviction and sentence of
the appellants was based on the testimony of PW-3 corroborated by other
lending and clinching circumstances pointing the accusing finger to the
appellants. In fact, the testimony of PW-3 has been carefully scrutinized,
tested and accepted by the two courts.
We have heard Mr. R S Cheema, learned senior counsel for appellants
in Crl. Appeal No. 1229 of 2001, Mr. K B Sinha, learned senior counsel for
appellant in Crl. Appeal No. 1228 of 2001 and Mr. Anoop G. Choudhary,
learned senior counsel for the State.
Learned counsel for the appellants challenged the veracity of the
testimony of PW-3 on various grounds. According to learned counsel, PW-3
came to the village Dholewale is not established as no one saw him in the
village, including his aunt, who was also married in the same village.
Learned counsel further stated that the behaviour of Joginder Singh is quite
unnatural as after seeing the incident, instead of informing police or some
villager, including his relative, he went straight to his village Mastewala and
came back only the next morning. Learned counsel also contended that the
statement of Joginder Singh, that on the fateful night he slept on the roof of
Sukhwant Singh, is quite unnatural. According to the learned counsel taking
all these circumstances into consideration, the testimony of PW-3 is wholly
unreliable. We are unable to accept this contention of the appellants. On the
other hand, we are clearly of the view that the testimony of PW-3 is quite
natural, turstworthy and wholly reliable. He being the relation of Sukhwant
Singh, husband of his sister Piar Kaur, there is no reason why he would
falsely depose against the appellants and allow the real assailants escape
unpunished. Converse would be quite unnatural. The presence of PW-3 in
the village Dholewala on the fateful day is quite natural because in his
statement it has come out clearly that there was a dispute over the land of
Sukhwant Singh being given to Bachittar Singh on theka. Since it could not
be resolved by persuasion, a Panchayat was to be convened the next day and
it was to the knowledge of Bachittar Singh. His not meeting with any of the
villagers would be no ground to throw away the testimony of PW-3. It is in
his statement that he arrived at the village Dholawale at about 7.30 P.M. and
after having meals he went to retire at the roof of Sukhwant Singh. The
incident had happened on 19th April, 1994 and at that time the place where
the incident had taken place must have been quite warm and PW-3 sleeping
on the roof of Sukhwant Singh is quite natural as this is the practice in most
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of the Indian villages for people to sleep on the roof during hot season. This
witness further deposed that he was empty handed and after seeing the
accused equipped with arms and hearing the firing sound he got frightened
and ran to his village to inform his father and other members of the family.
This is also quite natural. Having seen the accused armed with weapons, he
might have suddenly realised that if he loiters in the village and that too at
the odd hours, at 1.00 A.M., his life would be in danger. He, therefore,
might have thought that to save himself from the clutches of the accused,
instead of informing anybody in the village risking his life, he should inform
his father and family. It appears from his statement that the witness had
intervened to settle the dispute on several occasions to which accused
Bachittar Singh objected and said that he would retain the field at any cost.
Having realised the character and antecedents of Bachittar Singh, it is quite
natural that after seeing the accused with formidable weapons, he decided
not to risk his life and ran to his village. Thus we see nothing unnatural in
the behaviour of PW-3.
There are no hard and fast rules to test the veracity of the witnesses.
One way of testing the veracity of the witness is the simplicity of the
statement. Simplicity of the statement is indicative of the naturalness and
truthfulness. Often the polished statement tendered by the witnesses is the
product of coloured version. In the instant case, the simplicity of the
testimony of PW-3 reflects the naturalness and the truthfulness of the maker.
As is seen from the prosecution story, Bachittar Singh was the king player as
the dispute was between Bachittar Singh and Sukhwant Singh over the lease
of the land on Theka. If the witness wanted to introduce the coloured
version, he could have said that Bachittar Singh was armed with weapons. It
is not disputed that both the offensive weapons, namely .12 bore gun and
.303 bore rifle belong to Bachittar Singh. But this witness, both in his
examination under Section 161 Cr.P.C. and testimony in the court, had
consistently stated that Bachittar Singh was not armed whereas he stated that
Malook Singh was armed with .12 bore DBBL gun and Amarjit Singh was
armed with .303 rifle. This is clearly indicative of the naturalness and
truthfulness of the testimony of PW-3. Ordinarily, interested witnesses tend
to introduce coloured version and improvised statements to secure doubly
sure conviction of the accused. This is not so in the present case.
Human behaviour vary from man to man. Different people behave
and react differently in different situations. Human behaviour depends upon
the facts and circumstances of each given case. How a man would behave in
a particular situation, can never be predicted. In the given circumstances,
the behaviour of Joginder Singh PW-3 sleeping on the roof of the house of
Sukhwant Singh; after seeing the accused armed with weapons and hearing
of firing, jumping from the roof and running towards his village Mastewala
to inform his father and family members instead of loitering around in the
village Dholewala and informing somebody risking his life, is quite natural.
One should not forget that the incident had happened at 1.00 A.M. and that
at that odd time, nobody would be readily available to be informed without
loss of time. In the process, the life of the witness would be at great risk.
From the prosecution evidence, it is clear that Amarjit Singh was
helping Bachittar Singh. But why should PW-3 depose falsely against
Amarjit Singh with whom he or his brother-in-law, deceased Sukhwant
Singh had no dispute or enmity. The fact that it has come in the evidence
of the prosecution witness that the accused Amarjit Singh was an army
personnel and knew the handling of rifle would clearly indicate that he was a
hired killer. We are, therefore, clearly of the view that the testimony of
Joginder Singh, PW-3, is quite natural and trustworthy. We have no reason
to take a view contrary to the view taken by the trial court and the High
Court in this respect.
Dr. Charanjit Singh, PW-1 conducted Post Mortem of the deceased
Sukhwant Singh and his family. Dr. Rachpal Singh, PW-2 conducted Post
Mortem of the deceased Sukhwant Singh and his family. The High Court, in
its impugned judgment, noted the injuries sustained by the deceased, as
found in the Post Mortem reports by the two doctors as under:
"P.W-1 Dr. Charanjit Singh, who had conducted the post
mortem examination on the dead bodies of Gurjit Kaur,
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daughter of Sukhwant Singh deceased, and had found four gun
shot injuries thereon (two of entry and two of exit). Gogi,
Sukhwant Singh’s second daughter with two gun shot injuries
thereon, Piar Kaur, his wife with three gun shot injuries (two of
entry and one of exit) and Sukhwant Singh himself with two
gun shot injuries (one of entry and the other of exit); PW-2 Dr.
Rachpal Singh, who had conducted the post mortem
examination on the dead bodies of Bhupinder Singh and
observed two gun shot injuries (one of entry and the other of
exist), his son, Harjinder Singh, with two gun shot injuries (one
of entry and the other of exit); another son, Devinder Singh,
with two gun shot injuries (one of entry and the other of exit);
and his wife, Joginder Kaur, with three gun shot injuries (two of
entry and one of exit)."
Learned counsel for the appellants strenuously urged that the injuries
sustained by the deceased, as brought out in the evidence of PW-1 Dr.
Charanjit Singh and PW-2 Dr. Rachhpal Singh, would clearly show that
such injuries in quick succession could not have been caused by .303 bolt
action rifle which require deliberate bolted action after firing every shot.
Counsel suggested that possibly it is the handiwork of some terrorists using
high velocity Rifle like AK 47 serials. This submission is mis-conceived. It
is nobody’s case that the crime had been committed in a fixed particular time
frame. As it is apparent from the evidence of the witnesses on record, the
entire incident had taken place inside the room. Nobody had seen what had
happened inside the room. As to how the deceased were killed and in what
manner and fashion, nobody had seen, so also the time taken in the
commission of the crime. But from the evidence of PW-1 and PW-2, it is
clear that the deceased sustained gun shot injuries. At the same time, no
evidence to show that the deceased had threat perception from the
terrorists. On the other hand Bachittar Singh, due to threat perception from
the terrorists, had been given .303 calibre bolt action rifle No. 709467 for his
personal security. This has been proved by PW-23 Balkar Singh. It is also
not disputed that .12 bore DBBL gun bearing No. 15354-88 belonged to
accused Bachittar Singh.
Counsel for the appellants also contended that the empty cartridges,
proved by Forensic Science Laboratory, said to have been fired from the said
.303 rifle and .12 DBBL bore gun, are planted by the prosecution after the
gun in question had been seized by the police. This contention is belied by
the inquest report conducted by PW-22 ASI Surinder Mohan (Ex. P.J.).
From the inquest report, prepared by PW-22, it clearly appeared that the
report was prepared on 19.4.1994 at 6.30 A.M. In clause 23 of the report, it
is apparent that two empties of 3x3 bore gun were found near the dead
body. In Ex. P.N./5 (inquest report), four empty cartridges of 3 x 3 pukki
gun were found near the dead body. The theory of planting of empty
cartridges by the prosecution is, therefore, belied by the inquest report.
The eye-witness account of PW-3 Joginder Singh has been
corroborated with material particulars by the proved recovery and seizure
memos. It is in the evidence of the prosecution that on 19.4.1994, one
Thatha of black colour was recovered from the spot vide recovery memo Ex.
PMM. The arrest of Bachittar Singh led to the disclosure statement and
recovery of black coloured turban was made. Both the sides of turban were
found cut. The recovered turban was taken into possession vide memo Ex.
PAAA/1 and his disclosure statement is Ex.PAAA/10. Accused - Amarjit
Singh was also arrested on 24.4.1994 and on his personal search one thatha
of black colour was recovered. The turban, thatha of black colour, recovered
from the spot was sent to the laboratory and as per the report Ex. PNNN of
the Forensic Science Laboratory, both thathas one recovered from the spot
and the other on the personal search of accused Amarjit Singh, were similar
to the cloth of the turban recovered in pursuance of the disclosure statement
of Bachittar Singh. One empty of .12 bore gun was recovered from the spot
on 19.4.1994 at 6.30 A.M. by ASI Surinder Mohan. Three empties, three
live cartridges and one DBBL gun No. 15354 were recovered in pursuance
of the disclosure statement of Bachittar Singh. Recovered gun and the
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empties were sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh. Vide
report Ex. PVVV, two cartridges were found to be fired from the right barrel
seized DBBL gun. The other two cartridges were found to be fired from the
left barrel. It is not disputed that Bachittar Singh is the owner of the
licenced gun. Licence of the gun had also been recovered vide memo Ex.
PFF. Six empties of .303 bore rifle, recovered on 19.4.1994, were sent along
with rifle No. 709467 to Forensic Science Laboratory, Chandigarh. Vide
report Ex. PRRR of the Forensic Science Laboratory, empties were found
fired from .303 bore rifle No. 709467. As already noticed, this rifle was
provided to the accused Bachittar Singh for his personal safety because of
threat perception from terrorists, as proved by PW-23 Inspector Balkar
Singh. The same rifle was used by the accused Amarjit Singh.
One Jutti (shoe) was recovered from the scene of crime on 19.4.1994
at 6.30 A.M. As per the disclosure statement of accused Amarjit Singh,
second Jutti was also recovered. Both these Jutties were sent to Forensic
Science Laboratory. Vide report Ex. PQQQ, Forensic Science Laboratory
opined that one Jutti is tallying with the other.
’Man proposes, God disposes’, is exactly what has happened here.
What the accused thought that they were committing hidden crime without
realising that they had left behind the clinching evidence against themselves.
Accused Bachittar Singh in his report, as noticed above, had stated
that on the fateful day he went to irrigate his field at night and came back at
3 A.M. when he received information from his wife that there was firing in
the village but he ignored the same. He also stated that his cousin Pipal
Singh, who was residing in the same Haveli, had come at 6 A.M. and
informed him that at about 1 A.M. two unidentified persons had murdered
the families of Sukhwant Singh and Bhupinder Singh. It is significantly
enough to note that the accused Bachitter Singh never examined any
witness to show that he had gone to the field to irrigate his land and came
back at 3 A.M. He did not examine his wife, his mother (according to the
prosecution story mother is still alive), nor anybody to prove his alibi.
Believing the eye-witness account of Joginder Singh, coupled with
other formidable materials on record, as discussed above, we are clearly of
the view that the guilt of the accused has been established beyond the
shadow of doubt, as held by the trial court and confirmed by the High Court.
This takes us to consider the death penalty awarded by the trial court
and confirmed by the High Court. It is contended by the learned counsel for
the appellants that the case does not fall within the category of "rarest of
rare" which would invite capital punishment. On a perusal of the evidence
and materials on record, we find that apart from the solitary incident in
question, there is no evidence on record either oral or documentary, which
would suggest about the mis-conduct of the appellants in the past. There is
also no evidence on record to suggest that the appellants would be a menace
and threat to the harmonious and peaceful co-existence of the society. In a
case, what appears to be similar with the present one, Prakash Dhawal
Khairnar (Patil) vs. State of Maharashtra (2002) 2 SCC 35 the accused had
done to death his own brother, brother’s wife and children out of land
dispute. This Court held that no doubt the crime was heinous and brutal but
at the same time it will be difficult to hold that it is rarest of rare case. The
Court was also of the view that it would be difficult to hold that the appellant
is a menace to the society and there is no reason to believe that he cannot be
reformed or rehabilitated and that he is likely to continue the criminal acts of
violence as would constitute a continued threat to the society. The same
principle has been followed by this Court in Ram Anup Singh & Ors. v.
State of Bihar JT 2002 (5) 621. In the case at hand also, we are of the view
that having regard to the absence of evidence to the contrary that the
appellants are a menace to the society threatening the peaceful and
harmonious co-existence of the society and they are likely to be a continuous
threat to the society if once they come out of incarceration, no doubt the
crime was committed in a heinous and brutal manner but viewed from the
facts and circumstances, as noticed above, it would be difficult to hold that
the case falls within the category of "rarest of rare". At the same time, there
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is no reason to believe that they cannot be reformed or rehabilitated.
Viewed from the aforesaid perspective, we are of the opinion that the
appellants must be given a chance to repent that what they have done is
neither approved by the law or by the society and be reformed or
rehabilitated and become good and law abiding citizens.
In the facts and circumstances of the case, as stated above, we would
think that sentencing them to rigorous imprisonment for life would meet the
ends of justice.
We, therefore, set aside the death sentence awarded by the trial court
and confirmed by the High Court and instead award punishment of sentence
to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life.
In the result, the conviction of the appellants is upheld but the
sentence of death awarded to the appellants is set aside. Instead, they are
sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life.
With this modification in sentence, the appeals are disposed of.