Life term for man who stabbed, throttled wife to death

18/08/2026

JAMMU, Aug 17: A court here has sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering his wife by stabbing her in the abdomen and subsequently throttling her to death, bringing to an end a trial that remained pending for nearly 12 years.
1st Additional Sessions Judge, Jammu, Ranbir Singh Jasrotia sentenced Sham Lal to life imprisonment under Section 302 of the Ranbir Penal Code and imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000. In default of payment of the fine, he will undergo simple imprisonment for three months.
The case relates to FIR No. 32/2014 registered at Police Station Channi Himmat in connection with the murder of Sham Lal's wife, Bhuri Bai, at Channi Himmat on the intervening night of March 23 and 24, 2014.
The prosecution was represented by APP Sarfraz Ahmed, while Advocate Ahtsham Hussain Bhat appeared for the accused.
The prosecution case substantially rested on the testimony of Anita, daughter of the accused and the deceased, who was around 13-14 years old at the time of the incident. The court found her testimony reliable and noted that she had categorically identified Sham Lal as her father and stated that her mother had been killed by him following a quarrel between the couple.
The court observed that Anita's presence at the scene was natural and that nothing substantial had emerged during cross-examination to suggest a reason for her to falsely implicate her own father.
The court reiterated that a conviction can be based on the testimony of a single eyewitness if the witness is found wholly reliable, observing that the quality of evidence, rather than the number of witnesses, is material.
Her testimona was also corroborated by the medical evidence. The post-mortem examination found multiple injuries, including bruises and abrasions over the neck and a deep punctured wound in the abdomen that damaged the liver and blood vessels. About two litres of blood with clots had accumulated in the abdominal cavity.
The medical officer opined that the death was caused by the cumulative effect of asphyxia due to throttling and haemorrhagic shock resulting from the liver injury caused by a sharp-pointed weapon.
Several relatives of the deceased turned hostile during the trial. However, the court held that their evidence did not undermine the prosecution case as they were not eyewitnesses to the assault.
The court also noted discrepancies concerning the recovery and description of the alleged weapon and declined to place decisive reliance on that circumstance. It, however, held that an imperfectly proved corroborative circumstance could not outweigh credible direct evidence supported by medical findings.
The court observed that the prosecution is required to establish guilt "beyond reasonable doubt" and not beyond every imaginary or fanciful doubt. Minor discrepancies, fading recollection caused by a prolonged trial and hostility of non-eyewitnesses, it said, could not eclipse credible direct evidence corroborated by objective medical evidence.
On the basis of the evidence, the court held that Sham Lal had assaulted his wife with a sharp-pointed weapon, causing a penetrating abdominal injury that damaged her liver, and thereafter throttled her.
While considering the sentence, the prosecution sought the maximum punishment, describing the offence as grave and heinous. The defence sought leniency and urged the court not to impose the death penalty.
The court noted the serious aggravating circumstances, including the fact that the victim was the convict's wife and that the assault involved a penetrating injury followed by throttling. At the same time, it took note of the absence of any previous conviction and the lack of material suggesting that the convict was beyond reformation or rehabilitation.
The court also considered the exceptionally long duration of the trial, with the prosecution evidence taking nearly 12 years to conclude.
Holding that the case did not warrant the extreme penalty of death, the court concluded that the ends of justice would be met by imposing life imprisonment.
Accordingly, Sham Lal was sentenced to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 10,000. The period already spent in detention during investigation and trial will be dealt with in accordance with law.
The sentence has also been directed to be placed before the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu for confirmation.

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