A Delhi court has held a woman guilty of killing her eight-year-old stepson by strangulating him in north-west Delhi’s Vijay Vihar in 2016.
Following instructions by Prince’s father, his brother had taken the body for cremation. However, a priest on duty refused to perform last rites after noticing injury marks on the child’s neck.
The priest called the police and the latter sent the body for post-mortem. The autopsy report stated that the boy had died due to asphyxiation. The doctor who conducted the post-mortem said there were six external injuries on the boy’s body.
The doctor also deposed during the trial saying that Prince died due to asphyxia, secondary to cumulative effect of throttling and smothering, and that all his injuries were fresh and ante-mortem in nature.
Accused’s defence
In her defence, accused Kajal said her stepson died due to abdominal pain. Her counsel said Prince had complained to her about pain on the day of the incident and collapsed when she tried to give him water.
Her counsel also submitted that the prosecution had introduced a very weak motive for the crime as she took care of Prince just like she took care of her own son.
However, Additional Sessions Judge Mukesh Kumar said: “It cannot be believed that deceased Prince died due to abdomen pain, particularly when six external injuries were observed by the doctor. The prosecution has been able to establish on record that none other than the accused committed the murder... Accused Kajal committed the murder of Prince, which is punishable under Section 302 of the IPC. Accordingly, I hold the accused guilty for the said offence.”