The High Court is scheduled to deliver its judgement on Tuesday, regarding the death reference and the appeal filed by convict Hitu Sheikh, who was sentenced to death for the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl named Asiya in Magura.
A HC bench of Justice Bhishmadev Chakrabortty and Justice KM Rasheduzzaman Raja fixed the date on Monday after concluding hearings from both the prosecution and defence.
The verdict will determine whether the trial court’s death sentence against Hitu Sheikh will be upheld and decide on his appeal.
According to the case statement, Asiya was allegedly tortured and raped on the night of 5 March last year while visiting her sister’s house in the Nijnanduali area of Magura Sadar.
The prosecution alleged that Hitu Sheikh, the father-in-law of Asiya’s sister, attempted to kill the child after the assault.
Three days later, on 8 March, Asiya’s mother filed a case naming four people, including Hitu Sheikh, as accused. Asiya later died while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.
Police submitted the charge sheet on 13 April, and the trial began on 23 April after charges were framed. The trial proceedings were completed in 13 working days.
On 17 May, the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh to death and fined him Tk1 lakh, while acquitting the other three accused in the case.
The case documents were sent to the High Court on 21 May as a death reference. Under the law, a death sentence awarded by a lower court requires confirmation from the High Court before execution.
Hitu Sheikh later filed an appeal against the verdict on 25 June last year. After a hearing on the admissibility of the appeal, the High Court accepted it on 1 July and stayed the fine imposed by the trial court.
Deputy Attorney General Md Imam Hossain Tarek and Assistant Attorneys General Rohani Siddiqua and Mahbuba Tasnim Akhi, represented the state during the hearings.
The High Court hearing in the case began on 11 August.
