Madurai:
A Madras High Court bench has upheld the life sentence imposed by a lower court on a man andhis mother for allegedly harassing and burning to death his 20-year old wife three years ago, calling the crime as "most atrocious" and "most reprehensible".
Dismissing their appeal, Justices N Paul Vasanthakumar and P Devadass in a recent order said the victim herself had said in her dying declaration that the duo had doused kerosene and set her ablaze.
"The bride died under tragic circumstances. It is a case of bride-burning.
This was not a murder for gain or for any purpose. Bride burning is due to man's greediness in treatingwomen as chattels (personal property)," the court said adding they did not deserve any mercy.
On September 19, 2011, a lower court here had sentenced Balamurugan and Maruthayee to life term.
The prosecution had argued that the couple had married in 2008 and had no issues.
The woman wanted her husband to set up a separate home for them. She had also asked her mother togive her utensils and other household articles, which she promised to bring the next day when the woman was found burnt.
The judges rejected the defence contention that the woman had committed suicide as her wish to set up a separate familydid not materialise.