Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Dec 25: Relating to the murder of Sanjay alias Varun (19) from Hoigebail in the city on May 22, 2014, the first additional district and sessions court has delivered its verdict. Ashu alias Ashrith (23) has been held guilty of the said murder, while five others who were accused along with Ashrith have been acquitted.
Arguments and counter arguments will take place in the court about the quantum of punishment on December 26.
Ashrith had been accused of stabbing Varun from Boloor here to death with the support of his accomplices. The murder case was registered in Urwa police station. Six persons were arrested relating to the case, out of which five have been exonerated.
Sanjay alias Varun
Varun and Ashrith knew each other well. On some pretext, the two nursed grouse against each other, which turned into enmity. On May 22, 2014, Varun had planned to celebrate his 19th birthday. For this purpose, he had gone near Kallurti shrine near Modern Rice Mill at Hoigebail along with friends, Rajesh and Mahesh, to invite another friend, Mahesh, living there. When all of them were standing together at a spot, Ashrith reportedly came there in his motor bike. The two quarreled on some petty issue at the end of which Ashrith stabbed Varun to death, as per charge sheet filed.
It is said that about a month prior to this incident, Ashrith had fought with Varun's friends, Chinna and Jayaprakash, at Kudroli and inflicted burn injuries on their faces with the cigarette butt he was smoking. They had complained about this incident to Sanjay, and fight took place in this backdrop, it is learnt.
The Urwa police had succeeded in arresting the main accused, Ashrith, and five persons accused of being associated with this murder, within four days of the crime. The then inspector of the station, Ramachandra Maledevar, had investigated the case and filed chargesheet in the court. Judge of the first additional district court here, Sharada B, conducted hearing in the case, examined 25 witnesses and delivered the judgment.
Public prosecutor, Raju Poojary Bannadi, had argued the case on behalf of the prosecution.