A court in Ponda has taken a significant step in a harrowing domestic violence case, directing that murder charges be formally framed against a 34-year-old man for the alleged killing of his wife last year. The court found strong prima facie evidence suggesting the crime was premeditated.
Court Cites Strong Suspicion of Pre-Planning
The judicial magistrate found that the material presented by the prosecution raised a grave and strong suspicion that Chetan Gaonakar committed the murder of his wife in a pre-planned manner. The tragic incident occurred in May last year in Ponda, while the victim was asleep.
The court's decision aligned with the arguments put forth by Public Prosecutor Rajaram Dessai. The prosecution heavily relied on the prima facie statements of the accused's own parents and sister. According to the court's observation, Gaonakar had made a similar confession to his family members as he did to the police.
He reportedly informed his family about the strained relationship with his wife and confessed to ending it all by killing her. This extra-judicial confession, corroborated by family statements, became a pivotal point. Furthermore, the court noted that forensic reports prima facie supported the prosecution's murder case.
Defense Argues for Culpable Homicide, Not Murder
Advocate Mark Valadares, representing the accused, presented a contrasting narrative before the court. He argued that the case should not be classified as murder but as culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
Valadares contended that his client was deprived of self-control due to prolonged strained relations and committed the act in a sudden fit of rage. The defense lawyer challenged the strength of the prosecution's evidence, stating that apart from the alleged confession, the chargesheet contained only circumstantial evidence.
Prosecution Rebuts Defense Claims
Public Prosecutor Dessai firmly rebutted the defense's arguments. He emphasized that the accused had not only confessed to the police, detailing how and why he committed the crime, but had also made a similar admission to his parents.
The statements from Gaonakar's parents confirmed, according to the prosecution, that the offence was pre-planned on account of the ongoing marital discord. This, combined with the forensic evidence, formed a compelling prima facie case for murder, leading the court to order the framing of charges accordingly. The case will now proceed to trial based on these charges.
