In Brief
A minor girl in the custody of the appellant, who sought to raise her as his own daughter, was found dead with multiple injuries and evidence of sexual assault. The trial court convicted the appellant of murder (Section 302), sexual assault (Sections 376(2)(f) and 377), sentencing him to death and life imprisonment. The Supreme Court upheld the sexual assault convictions based on conclusive DNA evidence and post-mortem findings. However, it set aside the death penalty, finding the fresh injuries on the date of death (to skull, hand, and thumb) could not reasonably have caused the alleged cause of death (asphyxia from gastric aspiration). The conviction was altered to causing grievous hurt (Section 325) with seven years imprisonment, all sentences to run concurrently.
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