SC acquits convict of a murder case, 24 years after incident
The court also issued an ‘advance order’ for his immediate release
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has acquitted a convict who was given a lifetime prison sentence for killing a man in Sharsha upazila, Jeshore 24 years ago.
The three-member appellate bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order on Wednesday after hearing an appeal filed by the accused.
In the event that the acquitted individual, Shafikul Islam, a barber by profession, was still in jail, the court issued an 'advance order' for his immediate release.
During the hearing, the appellate bench said that a "big mistake" had been committed during the trial proceedings of the murder case.
In 1996, a Jashore court awarded lifetime prison sentences to three accused, including 16-year-old Shafikul Islam, after their conviction for killing a barber.
The High Court upheld the trial court verdict in 2014. Shafikul has been serving his sentence for 20 years.
The accused later appealed to the Appellate Division, challenging the High Court order.
After reviewing the merits of the case and other documents, the Supreme Court granted Shafikul's appeal and acquitted him of the murder charge.