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Man Acquitted After 23 Years in Jail for Family Slayings
27 Feb
Summary
- A man was acquitted after spending 23 years in jail for murder.
- The court criticized the criminal justice system's inefficiencies.
- Key evidence was deemed unreliable, including a child's testimony.
After serving 23 years in prison, a man has been acquitted of the murders of his wife and three children by the Allahabad high court. The court issued a strong statement, calling the case a "sad commentary on our criminal justice delivery system" that necessitates introspection. The bench emphasized the urgent need for remedial measures, such as appointing more judges and improving infrastructure, stating that conferences alone are insufficient.
The prosecution's case relied heavily on alleged extra-judicial confessions made by the accused to two witnesses and the testimony of his then 5-year-old son, Azim. However, during cross-examination, the child admitted his statements were tutored and given under threat of eviction. The court also considered the existing land dispute enmity between the informant and the accused.
The court acquitted the man, noting that while the murders were gruesome, the prosecution failed to conclusively prove his guilt. The judges acknowledged that the man's true ordeal might continue post-release, considering the potential loss of family and the uncertainty of his surviving son's reception.
