Child murder after rape in Patuakhali: SC affirms death penalty of 2 convicts

The Supreme Court today affirmed the death sentence of two convicts for killing a child after abducting and raping her in Patuakhali in 2005. 

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, dismissed the appeals filed by the convicts, challenging the HC verdict that confirmed their death sentence in the case.

The grounds on which the apex court affirmed their death sentence could not be known as the full text of the verdict was not released today. 

Deputy Attorney General Bishwajit Debnath told The Daily Star that convicts Nur Alam Howlader and Md Miraj Khalifa have rights to seek review of the apex court verdict and mercy from the president. If their review and mercy petitions are rejected, the jail authorities can execute their death penalty. 

According to the case statement, convicts Nur Alam Howlader, Md Miraj Khalifa and Zafar Gazi from Gachiani village under Dashmina upazila in Patuakhali killed minor Tanya after abducting and raping her on September 20, 2005.

They also gave confessional statements to the magistrate concerned during the trial proceedings of the case.

Barishal's Speedy Trial Tribunal on April 27, 2006 sentenced them to death and the HC on February 29, 2012 confirmed their death sentences.

The convicts then filed separate appeals with the Appellate Division challenging the HC verdict against them.

In the meantime, Zafar Gazi died, Supreme Court Spokesman Md Saifur Rahman told The Daily Star