"Perfectly Planned Murder": In Rare Order, Delhi Court Says Minors To Be Tried As Adults

In a rare order, a Delhi court has directed the prosecution of two minors, both around 17 years of age, as adults in a murder case, noting that the they were "emboldened" to commit the brutal crime after being let off early in another murder case.

Taking note of the physical and mental capacity of the accused besides the "brutality" of the crime, Additional Sessions Judge Savitri Attri set aside an order of the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) which, in September last year, held that the two minors be tried as children in Conflict with Law (CCL) and not as adults.

The court noted that the two were well aware of the JJB proceedings and executed their conspiracy to murder the victim "in a perfectly planned manner".

According to the prosecution, both minors had murdered Atma Ram's son on May 9, 2022.

The court, in its recent order, referred to the autopsy report, according to which the victim had suffered four fractures and 33 injuries, including 20 lacerated wounds, and said it was "sufficient to show the brutality."

One of the minors had hit the victim first with a sauce bottle on his head, then with a big stone on his chest and finally clobbered him with the butt of a country-made pistol, it said. The other minors also "actively participated" in the murder, the prosecution added.

It was alleged that one of the minors wanted to take revenge as he was earlier beaten up by the victim who had also circulated a video of the incident.

Allowing the appeal of the father of the victim against the JJB order, the sessions court said both minors understood the consequences of their action.

It said the manner in which they committed the offence left no doubt that they deserved to be tried as adults.

Both minors were involved previously in another murder case and the present offence had been committed in a pre-planned manner with proper strategy, Atma Ram said in his appeal.

Both minors twisted their versions during assessment by the psychologist and introduced a false story regarding being drunk at the time of the incident, the appeal said.

When the victim tried to escape on his motorcycle, the minors snatched his bike key and beat him again, leaving no scope for him to save his life, the court said.

"Considering the manner in which the alleged incident was committed is sufficient to show that CCLs had possessed the physical and mental capacity to commit the offence. They had executed their conspiracy to murder the victim in a perfectly planned manner," the court said.

But they were "remorseless and emotionally unconcerned" for the victim and his family, it said.

The court said the minors had concocted the story about them being drunk at the time of the incident.

"I am satisfied that they have introduced the story of their being drunk while committing offence, in order to save themselves from the rigours of being tried as adults as there is a drastic difference between trial and punishment in a heinous case between a person being tried as child vis-a-vis he being tried as adult," the judge said.

ASJ Ms Attri noted various reports including the social background report, social investigation report, physical mental drug assessment report and preliminary assessment report.

She said according to the reports both were aware of the consequences of their act but took the crime leniently or casually as one of the minors was let off after just four days of detention in the previous murder case. The other CCL was also let off quite soon.

This emboldened them to commit the second murder and the minors were observed to be well aware of the JJB proceedings, including the maximum punishment awardable in heinous offence, the judge said.

"I am satisfied that both CCLs not only had the physical and mental capacity to commit the offence but also understood the near and far consequences of their action," the court said.

"Further, a detailed account of the manner in which the offence was committed leaves no doubt in mind to conclude that they deserve to be tried as adults. Accordingly, the present appeal is allowed," the court added.

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