In Brief
The appellant was convicted of murder and arms offences and sentenced to life imprisonment. He fled while his appeal was pending in the High Court. The High Court dismissed the appeal without examining the merits solely because he was absconding. The Supreme Court held that once an appeal is admitted for final hearing, it cannot be dismissed merely for the appellant's absence or abscondence. The appellate court must dispose of the appeal on its merits by examining the evidence and verifying the trial court's reasoning, regardless of the appellant's failure to appear. The judgment was set aside and remanded to the High Court for disposal on merits within six months.
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