Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Mar 24: The North Goa Additional Sessions Court has convicted Januario Miranda and sentenced him to one year and three months of imprisonment for a violent 2017 incident in which he attacked multiple police personnel with knives. However, the court acquitted him of the charge of attempt to murder.

The case dates back to March 1, 2017, in Guirim, when police from Mapusa Police responded to reports of Miranda allegedly roaming the area in an aggressive state while armed, causing panic among residents.

When officers, led by the late PSI Elidio Fernandes, attempted to detain him, Miranda reportedly attacked with a knife. Fernandes narrowly avoided a stab to the abdomen by blocking it with his hand, sustaining a thumb injury.

During the confrontation, several officers were injured. PSI Deepesh Shetkar suffered wounds to his face, arm, and forearm, while PC Irshad Watangi received a stab injury to his thigh. Constables Devesh Goltekar and Rajesh Kandolkar were also injured, with Goltekar sustaining a shoulder dislocation during the scuffle.

The court found Miranda guilty of voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servants from duty and resisting lawful arrest. The defence had sought leniency, arguing that Miranda suffered from bipolar disorder and lacked intent. However, the court rejected this claim, noting the absence of medical evidence proving he was of unsound mind at the time of the offence.

It also drew a distinction between medical and legal insanity, observing that Miranda’s actions and threats indicated awareness and intent.

While acknowledging the seriousness of the assault, the court ruled that the injuries inflicted did not meet the legal threshold required to sustain a charge of attempt to murder, leading to his acquittal on that count.