Gujarat High Court saves man from gallows, sends him to prison for 30 years

Source: dnaindia.com

The Gujarat High Court on Monday refused to uphold the death sentence awarded to a 38-year-old man for kidnapping, raping, and murdering a six-year-old girl. However, it ensured that the man would have to repent for committing the heinous crime for the rest of his life as it converted his death sentence to 30 years in prison without remission.

An additional district court in Anjar of Kutch district had in February sentenced him to death. While the state government, as per norms, moved the HC for confirmation of the death penalty, convict Deva Dhana Koli challenged his conviction and sentence in the HC.

Additional public prosecutor Himanshu Patel told DNA: “The court has converted the death sentence into 30 years in prison without remission. It has also rejected the appeal against the conviction and sentence filed by Koli.”

Patel had argued before the court that Koli had tried to satisfy his lust and made the six-year-old girl his prey as she was helpless and not in a position to defend herself. He also argued that the man also murdered the girl after raping her.

It was also argued that Koli had criminal antecedents, no remorse after committing such an act, and might repeat the same.

On the contrary, counsel for Koli argued that the case against him was false. It was also argued that the child-witnesses in the case identified him after a period of three years and therefore, the same should not be relied upon.

As per the case details, the incident dates back to June 15, 2012, when the victim along with 3-4 other girls had gone to take a bath in a pool in an agricultural farm. Koli was present there and the victim, being the youngest among other girls, was kidnapped, taken to a nearby place, and was sexually assaulted by the man. Eventually, she was murdered.

In the meantime, the other girls alerted the victim’s relatives, who came searching for her only to find the body, with blood oozing out of her private parts. An FIR was registered and Koli, a resident of a nearby village, was arrested within a few hours. He was tried by the additional district court in Anjar, which awarded him the death sentence.

No Remission

• The HC ensured that convict Koli repents for the heinous crime committed by him during his jailstay
• Koli, who was held guilty of kidnapping, rape and murder of a 6-yr-old girl, will get no remission