In Brief
The appellant was convicted of murdering his mother based largely on circumstantial evidence. The Supreme Court reversed his conviction and acquitted him. Key findings: (1) Medical evidence was inconclusive—the absence of a ligature mark at the back of the neck suggests hanging or suicide, not strangulation; (2) The appellant did not live with the deceased, so he owed no duty to explain the death; (3) The alleged recovery of weapons was unreliable due to witness contradictions and a hostile source; (4) The motive of property gain was unproven; (5) The co-accused was acquitted on the same evidence, weakening the prosecution. The Court held that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt, and serious doubt remained whether the death was even homicidal. Acquittal was mandatory.
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