In Brief
A 25-year-old man was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering his 4-year-old niece. He challenged his death sentence, arguing the DNA evidence was inadequately proved. The Supreme Court held that failure to prove DNA results does not invalidate the prosecution's case when sufficient other evidence exists. The conviction under all charges was upheld. However, the Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, recognizing the accused's young age and potential for rehabilitation as compelling mitigating factors that preclude capital punishment under the 'rarest of rare cases' doctrine.
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