Kerala High Court Overturns Life Sentence, Citing Unfair Trial

The Kerala High Court has overturned a murder conviction and life sentence, highlighting that the accused was denied a fair trial. The man spent 14 years in jail amid a piecemeal trial process, without proper legal representation. The court ordered his release and the refund of fines.

The Kerala High Court has set aside the conviction and life sentence of a man accused of murder, who spent 14 years in jail, declaring that he was denied a fair trial. The bench of justices observed significant lapses during the trial process, including inadequate legal representation and the unlawful role assumed by the Sessions Judge.

Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice K V Jayakumar criticized the trial's conduct, noting that the accused had to cross-examine witnesses himself and that numerous key testimonies were recorded during his absence. Furthermore, the judge conducted examinations in lieu of the absent public prosecutor, a move deemed illegal by the High Court.

The court described the trial's seven-year span marked by over a hundred adjournments as unjustifiable, eventually allowing the appeal and ordering the accused's release. Additionally, the court mandated a refund of the imposed fine, emphasizing the extended period the accused spent in custody.

(With inputs from agencies.)