Kerala High Court Overturns Death Sentence in 2013 Murder Case After 10-Year Incarceration

The Kerala High Court has overturned the death sentence of a man convicted for the 2013 murder of a 57-year-old woman, citing lack of evidence. The court awarded Gireesh Kumar Rs 5 lakh compensation for his 10-year imprisonment. The decision highlighted systemic investigation failures and the importance of constitutional safeguards.

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday overturned the conviction and death sentence of a man convicted for the 2013 murder of a 57-year-old woman, citing insufficient evidence that was presented to the trial court.

A bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Syam Kumar V M determined that the prosecution failed to provide legally tenable evidence proving the charges against appellant Gireesh Kumar. As a result, the court awarded Kumar Rs 5 lakh compensation for his decade-long imprisonment and the looming threat of capital punishment.

While acquitting Kumar, the bench noted that the circumstantial evidence did not conclusively point to him as the criminal, and raised concerns about planted evidence and witnesses by the police. The court underscored that liberties guaranteed under the Indian Constitution cannot be compromised by flawed investigations and improper appreciation of evidence, which led to Kumar's wrongful conviction and near execution.

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