HC upholds wife’s life term

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court upheld the conviction and life sentence of a woman for strangling her husband and attempted to pass off his death as the result of excessive alcohol consumption. The bench, comprising Justice K. Lakshman and Justice K. Sujana, dismissed the criminal appeal filed by Agurla Laxmi alias Gouri against a judgment of the Principal Sessions Judge, Adilabad. 

According to the prosecution, Laxmi strangled her husband, with a nylon rope while he was sleeping on January 18, 2016. He was allegedly habituated to consuming alcohol and frequently subjected her to physical harassment. She initially informed relatives and neighbours that he died due to heavy consumption of liquor. However, a ligature mark was noticed around his neck while the body was being bathed for the last rites the following morning.

Witnesses testified that, when questioned, she admitted that she strangled him. Counsel for the appellant contended that there were no eyewitnesses to the incident, the alleged extra-judicial confession was weak evidence and the nylon rope was planted. Counsel also relied on the  failure of the prosecution to examine the minor child of the couple and the fact that two panch witnesses turning hostile. 

The bench held that the prosecution established a complete chain of circumstances proving her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The bench noted that the extra-judicial confession was corroborated by witness testimony, medical evidence establishing strangulation and recovery of the nylon rope.