HC upholds death penalty of 3 in six-murder case

The High Court today upheld a lower court verdict that had awarded capital punishment to three people in a case filed for killing six people at Mirpur in the capital in 2006.

The court, however, acquitted another convict who was also sentenced to death by the lower court in the case.

A security person and five domestic helps were slaughtered at the house of one Kazi Sirajul Haque on Road no 24 at Pallabi on October 13, 2006.

The victims are security guard Milon Bakshi, 27, domestic help -- Khadiza, 14, Anna, 11, Monir, 11, Rezia Begum, 35, and her son Tofael, 15.

A Dhaka court on October 26, 2008 sentenced Mohammad Azim, Mohammad Masum Matbar, Mohammad Zakir Hossain Bahar and Mohammad Qamruzzaman to death in the case.

The HC today upheld death penalty of the three and acquitted Azim from the case as allegation brought against him was not proved.

A HC bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Shahidul Karim came up with the verdict in response to appeals filed by the convicts against the lower court verdict.

Azim’s lawyer KBM Shofiqul Islam Biplob told The Daily Star that the HC acquitted his client of the charges as the circumstances mentioned in the case have proved that he was not involved in the killing.

According to the prosecution of the Dhaka court, Sirajul's security guard Azim and former driver Masum along with two hired robbers looted Tk 150,000 and 12 tolas of gold at the house after Sirajul along with his family members left for his brother's residence to attend an iftar party on October 13, 2006.

The gang killed security guard Milon and the five domestic helps as they had recognised them.

Later, Sirajul filed a case with Pallabi Police Station.

Detective Branch (DB) of police pressed charges against the four on November 16, 2007.