The High Court (HC) has overturned a lower court verdict in a 2014 Jhalakathi murder case, acquitting two convicted individuals who were earlier sentenced to death and life imprisonment.
A High Court bench comprising Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore and Justice Md Nurul Islam on Wednesday allowed the appeals and dismissed the death reference, effectively clearing both accused of all charges.
Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir represented the appellants in court.
According to the case documents, Nasir Uddin of Shouljalia village under Kathalia upazila in Jhalakathi was killed on 6 February, 2014.
He was allegedly murdered by his wife Parul Begum and Khokon Hawlader, who was accused of having an extramarital relationship with her.
The following day, the victim’s brother, Sohorab Hawlader, filed a murder case with Kathalia Police Station.
Parul Begum was arrested on 7 February, while Khokon Hawlader was arrested on 8 February.
Investigating officer Sub-Inspector Abdus Salam submitted the chargesheet on 30 April, 2014, naming both as accused.
After examining testimony from 17 witnesses, the Jhalakathi District and Sessions Judge Court on 11 November, 2018, sentenced Khokon Hawlader to death and Parul Begum to life imprisonment.
The verdict was later sent to the High Court as a death reference, while both convicts appealed against their sentences.
After hearing the appeals, the High Court set aside the trial court judgement and acquitted both accused.
