1 week ago

Court commutes death sentence after brutal wife stabbing

Court commutes death sentence after brutal wife stabbing
No death penalty for man who stabbed wife 49 times three days after childbirth · indianexpress.com

A man attacked his wife three days after she had a baby.

He stabbed her 49 times, and their six-year-old daughter saw what happened.

He also tried to kill the daughter by cutting her throat.

A court said the crime was extremely cruel and serious.

However, the court decided that the law did not allow the death penalty in this case.

Instead, the man was sentenced to life in prison.

He must spend at least 35 years in prison before officials can consider reducing his sentence.

The court also ordered money to help support the couple’s two daughters.

The money will be kept for them until they become adults.

Key facts

Victim’s condition
The woman had given birth three days before the attack.
Attack
The husband stabbed his wife 49 times and attempted to slit their six-year-old daughter’s throat.
Sentence
Death sentence commuted to life imprisonment.
Minimum custody
At least 35 years must be served before remission can be considered.
Additional compensation
The state must pay Rs 10 lakh each to the two daughters.
Earlier compensation
The DLSA had awarded Rs 5 lakh, to be kept in fixed deposits until the daughters reach majority.
Court’s assessment
The attack was described as extremely barbaric and brutal, but not legally within the “rarest of rare” category.

Quotes

Orissa High Court bench of Justices Manash Ranjan Pathak and Sashikanta Mishra

The two-judge Orissa High Court bench that reviewed and commuted the death sentence.

“It is difficult to envisage the condemned prisoner returning home after spending only 10 more years in prison or thereabouts, to his daughters, one of whom he attempted to kill.”
indianexpress.com
“Looking at the tender age of the two children, 10 and four years, we feel that their future, in the absence of their parents, needs to be secured to the extent possible.”
indianexpress.com

Sources

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