Trial court was insensitive in ignoring mental illness of murder accused: HC
Madurai: Madras high court has set aside the conviction and life sentence imposed on a murder accused by a trial court, stating that the court was “totally insensitive” in failing to consider his mental health status despite records showing that he had undergone treatment at Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Kilpauk during the trial.
A division bench of justice N Anand Venkatesh and justice P B Balaji said the trial court judgment made “absolutely no reference to the mental status of the accused,” though the court had been put on notice about his insanity and the B-Diary extract (case history) showed that the case was adjourned on several occasions because he was admitted in the hospital.
The court allowed the criminal appeal filed by Vignesh Kumar , who had been convicted by the sessions judge, Tiruchirappalli division, in 2018 for the murder of Vellaipandi at Shakila Lodge in Trichy on March 20, 2016.
According to the prosecution, the accused and deceased consumed alcohol in a lodge room before a quarrel broke out. The accused allegedly stabbed Vellaipandi several times, tore open his abdomen, pulled out his intestines and wore them as a garland before escaping by threatening witnesses with a knife.
A division bench of justice N Anand Venkatesh and justice P B Balaji said the trial court judgment made “absolutely no reference to the mental status of the accused,” though the court had been put on notice about his insanity and the B-Diary extract (case history) showed that the case was adjourned on several occasions because he was admitted in the hospital.
The court allowed the criminal appeal filed by Vignesh Kumar , who had been convicted by the sessions judge, Tiruchirappalli division, in 2018 for the murder of Vellaipandi at Shakila Lodge in Trichy on March 20, 2016.
According to the prosecution, the accused and deceased consumed alcohol in a lodge room before a quarrel broke out. The accused allegedly stabbed Vellaipandi several times, tore open his abdomen, pulled out his intestines and wore them as a garland before escaping by threatening witnesses with a knife.
Next Story