Date:03/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/03/stories/2009010354250500.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Prosecution hearing ends

Staff Reporter

Kozhikode: Hearing of arguments from the prosecution and the defence sides regarding sentencing the convicts in the Marad massacre case started at the Special District Sessions Court (Marad cases) here on Friday.

Special public prosecutor P.K. Haridas argued that the guilty should be awarded the maximum punishment as per the Indian Penal Code. Judge Babu Mathew P. Joseph heard and recorded his statements. The argument from the defence side will begin on Saturday.

On Thursday, the court had completed the process of questioning of the accused on the sentence in the massacre case. This had been done under Section 235 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Last week the court held 63 persons guilty and acquitted 76 in the case.