Home / Crime and Justice / Kerala Court Frees Woman Jailed 15 Years for Newborn's Death
Kerala Court Frees Woman Jailed 15 Years for Newborn's Death
4 Aug
Summary
- Woman acquitted after 15 years, conviction for newborn murder overturned.
- Court cited prosecution's failure to prove murder beyond reasonable doubt.
- Alleged motive to hide pregnancy disproved by witness testimonies.
The Kerala High Court has acquitted a woman who was serving a life sentence for the alleged murder of her newborn in 2009. Justices Raja Vijayaraghavan V and K V Jayakumar stated that the prosecution did not prove the murder charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
The court also noted that the prosecution failed to establish the alleged motive of concealing an illegitimate pregnancy, as family members and a neighbor were aware of the pregnancy. Several gaps were identified in the circumstantial evidence, including the non-recovery of alleged weapons and the lack of evidence for the woman disposing of the body.
During the appeal, the woman claimed false implication by her husband. She stated she experienced severe abdominal pains, fainted, and lost the child in the hospital without committing infanticide. The court concluded that the evidence was insufficient for conviction and granted her the benefit of doubt.
