The Division Bench comprising Justice K Shreedhar Rao and Justice A S Pachchapure pronounced orders to this effect and disposed of seven criminal appeals pertaining to the year 2005.

*27-year-old Machaiah of Kormangala, Bangalore was convicted for killing one Susheelamma when she was alone in her house in Venkatapura layout, while snatching her ornaments, during the afternoon of March 12, 2003. The Court upheld the city Fast Track Court’s January 2005 order of conviction and life sentence, while dismissing the accused’s appeal. 

* Mahadevaiah of Honganoor, Chamrajnagar district, had assaulted his wife Mangalamma to death, suspecting her fidelity and upset with non-transfer of her sister’s site into his name. He had also assaulted a neighbour Neelamma and threatened other villagers who tried to rescue Mangalamma. The Court upheld the conviction order passed by Mysore Fast Track Court in September, 2004.

*The Bench partly allowed another appeal against a conviction order passed against two persons by Kodagu-Madikeri Sessions Court for murder of Appanna of Singathoor village, Madikeri. It confirmed the sentence of life imprisonment for Sullekodi Jayaprakash alias Jaya, while acquitting the second accused, Billavara Somappa alias Boja, from the charges levelled and ordered his immediate release. 

* The Court dismissed another appeal by accused Manthaiah, a resident of Mysore and confirmed life sentence for killing one Y V Venkataranganaika. On Sept 5, 2003, Manthaiah had attacked the victim with a cart peg, while he was riding a moped in Yellandur village, and he had succumbed to injuries on the way to hospital.

*Life sentence was confirmed for Nagaraj D, a carpenter of Arasikere, Hassan district for killing one Jayamma, working as maid servant. He had poured kerosene and lit fire to Jayamma in her own house, being upset about her illicit relationship with his brother-in-law, Anthony.

*The Bench confirmed lifer for one Basavantappa B Hadimani of Hindalga, Belgaum district who had killed his wife Basavva. It was said that Basavantappa had killed Basavva’s brother Shivanagoud Patil, 20 years prior to murder of Basavva, and had been absconding since then. He had returned to the village in September 2003, and after villagers’ persuasion, Basavva and their children had allowed him to stay with them. At 2 pm on September 21, 2003, Basavantappa assaulted Basavva to death, while threatening their son who tried to rescue her.

*Lifer for Shivamurteppa Bagewadi of Inchal, Saundatti was confirmed for killing his wife Basavannewa.
Addicted to liquor, the convict had killed his wife on September 21, 2002 while both had gone for collecting firewood, and had later revealed it to his son.