MADURAI: Four life sentences awarded to an accused in a case of burning to death his wife and three children were quashed by the Madurai Bench of the High Court on Wednesday.
According to prosecution, Andreas, of Nagercoil, was the husband of Marysudha. They had three sons Sahaya Anston (7), Sahaya Anistos (5), Sahaya Abis (3) and a daughter Abianushda (1). Andreas and his wife quarrelled frequently.
Meanwhile, Marysudha had not paid for five litres of kerosene oil that she collected from her mother-in-law.
This led to another argument on August 23, 2003.
Andreas had poured kerosene oil on his wife and children while they were sleeping and set them on fire.
Only Sahaya Anston escaped after treatment, while the other four died.
The Nagercoil Sessions Court which tried the case found Andreas guilty of all charges and was sentenced to four life imprisonments in April 2010.
The court also directed that he should serve the sentences concurrently and that the accused should not be released for 20 years.
Andreas appealed against his conviction and sentence. His appeal came up for hearing before a Division Bench comprising Justice K N Basha and Justice Aruna Jegadeesan.
The Bench observed that the chargesheet said that the appellant had attempted to murder his wife and children.
But his wife who was in hospital for eight days had not mentioned that her husband set her on fire.
The evidence of seven-year-old Sahaya Anston who was saved after treatment was also contradictory, the Bench held and quashed the conviction and sentence of Andreas.