In Brief
A Kerala-based Member of the Legislative Assembly and his bodyguard were fatally shot at a hospital in 1998. The High Court had acquitted nine accused, finding the eyewitness evidence unreliable and noting that a key supposed witness was not mentioned in the initial police report. The Supreme Court partially reversed this decision, finding that despite the omission, the credible testimonies of other eyewitnesses—particularly the victim's brother-in-law and a religious figure—corroborated each other and established guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The Court convicted two accused of murder and attempted murder, affirming life imprisonment with fines. The remaining accused were granted acquittal for lack of direct evidence of conspiracy.
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