Punjab & Haryana HC Confirms Death Sentence for 3-Year-Old’s Rapist-Murderer
Last Updated on December 7, 2024 by Athi Venkatesh
The Punjab & Haryana High Court confirmed the death sentence of a man convicted for raping and murdering a 3-year-old girl in 2018. A division bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma upheld the trial court’s February order, deeming it a “rarest of the rare case.”
The court described the crime as “gruesome” and the convict’s actions as “monster-like.” It agreed with the trial court’s findings, stating that the punishment aligns with judicial conscience. The Special POCSO Court had sentenced the convict under IPC Sections 302 and 376AB and Section 6 of the POCSO Act.
The victim’s body was found naked and bleeding near the crime scene. The convict, her neighbor, confessed in a signed statement and disclosed where the crime weapons were hidden. Authorities later recovered the weapons based on his confession.
The division bench relied on DNA evidence linking the convict to the crime. Blood stains and swabs matched his DNA. Witnesses also placed the convict and the victim together before the crime. The court highlighted the scientific evidence and the proximity of the crime scene to the body’s location.
The High Court directed the district magistrate to appoint an executioner and schedule the death penalty. It also ordered compliance with legal procedures, including waiting for the appeal period to lapse.
This judgment reinforces the court’s commitment to justice in heinous crimes against children.
