Rapist B A Umesh alias Umesh Reddy, now lodged in Belgaum jail, was produced before the Karnataka High Court on Friday, for the hearing of a reference case seeking confirmation of death penalty imposed on him.
Umesh, who is facing several rape and murder charges, and also undergone conviction and acquittal in a few cases had been sentenced to death by a City Fast Track Court on October 26, 2006, in a case pertaining to robbery, rape and murder of a widow residing in Peenya police station limits.
A HC division Bench which had heard the prosecution referred case for confirmation of death sentence and Umesh’s plea against conviction and sentence, had in October 2007, upheld his conviction in the case.
However, as regards the penal sentence, the Bench had given a divided judgement, with Justice V G Sabhahit upholding death sentence and Justice R B Naik voting for a sentence of life imprisonment.
Following this, the matter was referred to a third senior judge of the High Court. Justice S R Bannurmath to whom the case is referred, had earlier directed the prosecution to keep Umesh Reddy present for hearing him on sentence.
However, at the hearing on Friday, Umesh’s counsel sought for adjournment while also asking the judge to re-hear the case regarding conviction before hearing on the penal sentence.
The Court posted the case to January 11, 2008, for hearing it on merits. Umesh’s presence might be ordered after conclusion of the hearing.