Magura child rape: Hitu Sheikh sentenced to death, 3 acquitted
A Magura tribunal today sentenced the prime accused, Hitu Sheikh, to death for the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl.
Hitu's wife Jaheda Begum, 38, and his sons -- Ratul Sheikh, 18, and Sajib Sheikh, 20, -- were acquitted from the charges as allegations brought against them could not be proven, said Public Prosecutor Monirul Islam Mukul.
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Judge M Zahid Hasan of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Magura pronounced the verdict.
The verdict came in 70 days, after the case was filed on March 8, and the trial was completed in 11 working days, according to the prosecution.
Hitu was charged with rape and murder, Sajib and Ratul were charged with criminal intimidation, and Jaheda was charged with tampering with evidence.
Hitu, 44, is the father-in-law of the victim's sister, while Sajib is the victim's brother-in-law.
On May 13, the court set the date for the delivery of the verdict after hearing arguments from the prosecution and the defence.
According to the case documents, the child on March 1 this year went to visit her elder sister's house in Nijnanduali Mathpara area of Magura Sadar. She was raped there in the early hours of March 6.
On the same day, she was taken to the Magura 250-bed District Hospital in a critical condition and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital.
From Faridpur, she was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in an unconscious state on that day and put on life support the next night.
When her condition deteriorated, the child was transferred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on March 8.
On March 8, her mother filed a case with Magura Sadar Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, accusing Hitu, Jaheda, Sajib and Ratul.
On March 13, she died at the CMH after suffering three cardiac arrests.
A month after her death, investigation officer Md Alauddin, also inspector (investigation) of Magura Sadar Police Station, submitted the charge sheet of the case before the court on April 13, naming the four accused.
On April 23, the court framed charges against them.
According to the court records, 29 prosecution witnesses testified in the tribunal. Recording statements began on April 27 and ended on May 7.
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