Four convicts have appealed to the Supreme Court seeking acquittal from the sentences handed down by the International Crimes Tribunal in the murder case of Abu Sayeed, the first martyr of the July uprising.
The appeal petitions were filed with the relevant section of the Supreme Court on Thursday, said defence lawyer Azizur Rahman Dulu.
Zahirul Islam has been appointed as the advocate-on-record for the appeals.
The appellants are former police Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Amir Hossain, former constable Sujon Chandra Roy, former assistant registrar Rafiul Hasan Rusel, and former Chhatra League joint general secretary Imran Chowdhury alias Akash.
Of them, Amir Hossain and Sujon Chandra Roy were sentenced to death by the tribunal.
On 9 April, the ICT sentenced two accused to death and three others to life imprisonment in the case. The tribunal also handed down different terms of imprisonment to 25 other accused.
The full verdict was published on 11 June.
Abu Sayeed, a student of Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, was shot dead by police on 16 July, 2024, during the July uprising.
The incident was later brought before the International Crimes Tribunal for investigation and trial.
The investigation agency submitted its report to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office on 24 June last year.
The trial began on 6 August after charges were framed against 30 accused.
During the trial, 25 witnesses testified on behalf of the prosecution, while the defence did not present any witnesses.
The appeals will now be placed before the Supreme Court for further proceedings.
