Court convicts murder accused
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 28 2019: Gaiphulshillu Golmei, Session Judge, Imphal East, convicted one Yumkhaibam Kullachandra of Andro Khunou, for murdering his ex-wife's husband identified as one Chingakham Panchom of Andro Khoibu on February 19, 2016 under section 447 (criminal trespass) and section 302 IPC (murder) and fixed March 5 for the sentence hearing.

The order was announced in an open Court today, in the presence of the convict Yumkhaibam Kullachandra (46) s/o (L) Herachandra of Andro Khunou, after it was kept reserved following the final hearing of the trial on February 25.The trial began after the IO of the case submitted the charge sheet to JMFC Imphal East on December 3, 2016 and the case was committed before the Court from JMFC for the trial.

The case began against the convict after a complaint was lodged by the younger brother of the deceased (Chingakham Panchom) of Andro Khunou to OC Andro PS, on February 20, 2016, stating that the previous night, at around 9.45, his elder brother was found dead in the courtyard with injuries on the neck and head.

During the course of the investigation and on inquiry, it was found that the wife of the deceased is his second wife and it came to light that her ex-husband resided just across the road from their house.

Thereafter the said wife and her first husband (the convict) Yumkhaibam Kullachandra were arrested in connection with the case.

During the examination of the wife of the deceased it was found that the convict committed the murder while she and her deceased husband were sleeping in the courtyard of their house.

On the other hand, the convict also disclosed that on the fateful day, at around 4 pm, he went to his younger's brother residence where he had alcohol and on his return he drank more from a vendor and as such he reached his village at around 7 pm.

He continued that after reaching home, he went to their local community hall and on the way he saw the deceased and his ex-wife talking.

Later when he returned home from the community hall, he saw the deceased and his ex wife sleeping and talking in the courtyard of their home and on seeing the scene he began to get angry.

As such, he went to his house, took out his machete (Thangjou), went to the courtyard and he struck Chingakham Panchom 3 to 4 times with the machete.

He then returned home and concealed the weapon under his bed after cleaning all the blood with a gunny bag.

Upon finding prima facie evidence against the convict, charge was framed by the Court but the convict pleaded not guilty and claimed for a trial.

More than 12 prosecution witnesses were produced during the trial while the defense counsel produced three defense witnesses during the trial.

After analysing the statement of the defense witnesses, the Court opined that the statements lacked any coherence and that there is no denying that the IO of the case had recovered a machete based on the disclosure of the convict.

The weapon along with the gunny bag, when subjected to forensic examination were all found to have blood stain which was of similar group to the blood found near the dead body.

As such, the Court convicted Yumkhaibam Kullachandra under section 477 and section 302 of Indian Penal Code and fixed March 5 for the sentence hearing and to announce the quantum of punishment against the convict.

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