Session Court, Ukhrul judge W Tonen Meitei on Wednesday convicted a man of beating his wife to death in an inhumane manner with using sticks on May 2, 2015.
Themmithan Phungchamnao, 42, son of (L) Luikai of Langdang Village, Ukhrul district was convicted of beating his wife Jessy Zingkhai, 32, daughter of Vareiyo Zingkhei of Kaomtang village at their residence in Narep Meizailung, Ukhrul.
The court found the accused Themmithan guilty of offence punishable for causing the death of his wife under section 304, part-ii, IPC. She succumbed to her injuries on May 2, 2015, as a result of physical assault inflicted on her body by the accused on May 1 without premeditation and mens rea not amounting to murder. The court has fixed January 13, 2021 for sentence hearing.
During court hearing on Wednesday, the accused, who is now in judicial custody, Manipur Central jail, Sajiwa, was interacted through JITSI Meet app. The court directed superintendent, Manipur Central jail, Sajiwa to produce the convict before the court on the sentence hearing.
The father of the deceased had complained about the incident to Ukhrul police station on May 2, 2015. The police charge sheeted on December 12, 2016 against the accused for killing his wife with his own hands by using wooden sticks. The charge was framed against the accused under section 302/34 IPC.
Meanwhile, the police had arrested two other accused persons namely Wungnaokhan AS and Leim Mahakva but they were discharged from the liabilities of the case.
During the trial, the court had taken ten prosecution witnesses. The prosecution was able to prove without reasonable doubt that the accused had committed culpable homicide not amounting to murder by inflicting injuries to the deceased Jessy Zingkhai which ultimately resulted to her death.
It may be mentioned that the court conviction order stated that the deceased Jessy Zingkhai along with Leim Mahakva, Wungnaokhan AS and the accused were having a party together on May 1, 2015. Under the effect of alcohol, there was a tussle amongst them which led to causing physical assault on the woman by the accused, it stated. However, in causing injuries to the woman, the accused had no motive or intention to cause death, and the assault resulted purely out of anger and under the effect of intoxication due to consumption of alcohol, it added.
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