Man acquitted after 23 years

The Bombay high court acquitted Andhra Pradesh native Laxman Zinna of murder charges after he had already served 23 years of a life term for allegedly killing his son. Kanchan Chaudhari reports.

The Bombay high court acquitted Andhra Pradesh native Laxman Zinna of murder charges after he had already served 23 years of a life term for allegedly killing his son.

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The division bench of Justice Abhay Oak and justice Shrihari Daware reversed the trial court’s order on the grounds that the prosecution’s case was based only on circumstantial evidence and not established “beyond reasonable doubt.” Zinna was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his son, Bhumayya, in 1989 after Bhumayya’s body was found at Talzan Hill in Kandivli. The prosecution held him guilty as he was the last person seen with Bhumayya and because they found his bloodstained dhoti.

The trial court had used a supposed admission of guilt in a statement by him, but the HC deemed this evidence invalid, as they had not warned Zinna before recording the statement that it could be used against him.