In Brief
On 12 January 1994, a bomb attack at a funeral in Tamil Nadu killed one Luis John Kennedy. Eleven people were convicted of murder under the doctrine of unlawful assembly (Section 149 IPC). The Supreme Court held that while bomb-carrying accused (Nos. 1-3) shared murderous intent, those armed only with sticks and sickles (Nos. 4-10) lacked knowledge that murder by bomb would occur. Convictions for murder under Section 149 were set aside for accused 4-10, though lesser assault convictions stood. Accused 3 was convicted under shared intention (Section 34), and accused 11 (who instigated by words) under abetment (Section 109). The appeals were partly allowed, acquitting accused 4-10 of murder."
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