TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The South Goa Sessions court on Friday sentenced a native of Kholapur, Abhijit Patil (28) to life imprisonment for the murder of 25-year-old girl from Curtorim, Marubia Shaikh in broad daylight at Margao in 2010.
Additional sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa further directed the accused to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 or in default to undergo a further six months imprisonment. The fine, if paid, is to be paid to Zainab Bi Shaik, mother of the deceased. Both the parents of the deceased Nizamuddin Shai and Zainab were present in court when the judge pronounced the sentence.
The case was investigated by then Margao PI Santosh Dessai, while public prosecutor B Gaonkar represented the prosecution during the trial.
In his order, the Judge said that the accused have been held guilty of the offence of murder of a girl whom he had been in love with, in broad daylight. Agreeing with the defense lawyer that the offence was committed due to mental and emotional disturbance of the accused, as the girl was not reciprocating, the Judge said the accused is a young person, and added that this is not a case calling for imposition of the death penalty.
“Awarding life imprisonment for the offence of murder will serve the ends of justice along with fine of Rs 10,000,” the Judge added.
The incident occurred in broad daylight at Margao on June 14, 2010 at the old bus stand. The deceased according to prosecution was working as receptionist at a hotel in Margao while the accused was employed at the same hotel.
On the day of incident, while the girl was waiting for a bus, Abhijeet approached her and there was a heated argument. In a fit of anger, Abjeet removed a knife from his pocket and stabbed the victim repeatedly. She was rushed to Hospicio Hospital were doctors declared her dead on arrival.
