Two murder accused get ‘benefit of doubt,’ acquitted

Prime witness did not show up in the past three years

KARACHI:

The Sindh High Court has suspended the sentences of two suspects implicated in the murder of five people and ordered their release.

A two-member bench, led by Justice KK Agha, heard the appeal against the sentences of suspects Sultan Jabal, and Arif Mama. The court ordered the acquittal of these accused individuals, giving them benefit of doubt.

The court observed that the main witness failed to appear before the court for three years, casting doubt on the reliability of the testimony he had given previously. Moreover, there were significant discrepancies in the statements provided by witnesses. Consequently, the court ruled that the accused should be released if not involved and wanted in any other case.

The plaintiff, a Navy officer, had informed the police in a statement that the accused were responsible for the deaths of his two brothers, Javed and Ismail, his maternal uncle Taj Muhammad, and his two cousins, Shoaib and Faisal. The officer received information via phone that the bodies of his relatives were sent to the Civil Hospital.

According to the prosecution, the accused were previously awarded life imprisonment and fines by the lower court. The incident in question occurred on March 10, 2014, when the accused, along with their accomplices, allegedly took the lives of five people within the jurisdiction of the Mochko police station.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2023.