Summary
The Supreme Court acquitted the appellant on benefit of doubt where the circumstantial case concerning murder and related charges had material missing links. The prosecution failed to connect the recovered phone’s subscriber with the deceased and inadequately proved the alleged earlier snatching of the weapon, despite the ballistic match. The evidence did not form a complete chain excluding reasonable hypotheses consistent with innocence.
Issues
- Whether the phone and firearm evidence completed the circumstantial chain against the appellant.
Held
- The prosecution’s own evidence identified a different subscriber for the phone. No link to the deceased or supporting bill was proved, leaving the alleged phone connection to the murder unestablished. (¶¶ 13(c), 15)
- Although the recovered bullet matched the service weapon, the alleged snatching by the accused was insufficiently established; no identification-parade record was produced. The claimed extra-judicial confession also did not form the prosecution’s specific case and appeared in cross-examination. (¶¶ 13(a), 13(e), 15)
- Circumstances must be fully established and collectively exclude reasonable hypotheses consistent with innocence. The missing links here required benefit of doubt. (¶ 16–18)
Result
Appeal allowed; appellant acquitted of the charges and ordered to be released forthwith unless required in another case.