BENGALURU: Holding a salesman guilty of murdering a BCom student in a scuffle while watching the ICC T20 World Cup match between India and Australia at a live screening in JC Nagar on March 27, 2016, a city court awarded him life imprisonment and slapped a fine of Rs 50,000.
Five fellow accused of the convict, John
Kennedy
A alias
Kennady
, 28, of JC Nagar, were acquitted. According to the prosecution,
Avinash J, 22, and his friends had arranged the live screening of the match on 4th Cross, SK Garden. Kennedy came there with his Labrador dog. Avinash and friends asked Kennedy to leave the place as his dog was creating a nuisance. It led to an argument between Kennedy and other viewers. Kennedy left the place and returned with his mother and sister. The group managed to explain the problem, after which his mother and sister went back home. But Kennedy continued to argue and stabbed Avinash’s friend
Kenneth
in the chest. Avinash tried to save Kenneth and received multiple stabs. Avinash was rushed to the hospital where he breathed his last.
Five friends of Kennedy allegedly assaulted Avinash’s friends during the clash and were named as co-accused in the case. But, the prosecution failed to prove their roles and hence, the court acquitted them of all the charges.
The defence advocates contended that it was a group clash over cricket betting. Matches were organized on the big screen on public roads for the sake of betting and Kennedy did not stab Avinash, it was argued. But the eyewitnesses supported the prosecution argument and evidence also helped in proving Kennedy's crime. “The facts show the accused did intend to cause the death of Avinash but had knowledge that his act would be causing his death. As regards the involvement of accused No 2 to 6, the prosecution has not placed corroborative evidence,” noted judge
KG Chintha
of the 65th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court.
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