SC upholds life sentence of doctor for wife's murder

Relying on circumstantial evidence, the Supreme Court has upheld the life sentence of a doctor who murdered his wife, also a doctor, 16 years ago in Ludhiana.

“As the appellant had a strained relationship with his wife, he no doubt wanted to get rid of her. Although he has claimed that the petitions for divorce by mutual consent were pending before court, he has never submitted any documents with respect to this before the court,” a bench of Justices B S Chauhan and Ibrahim Kalifullah said. “Thus, inference may be drawn that the appellant did in fact wished to get rid of his wife.”

“As the recoveries of a blood stained gunny bag and other items were made on the basis of the disclosure statement of the appellant himself, the chain of circumstances is therefore, complete,” the apex court said.

The bench passed the judgement while dismissing the appeal of Dr Sunil Clifford Daniel, who murdered his wife Dr Loyalla Shagoufta on March 9, 1996. According to the prosecution, the couple was working in Christian Medical College Hospital, Ludhiana, but due to strained relationship, Daniel strangulated her after a scuffle.