PANAJI
The Sessions Judge, North Goa (Merces) has convicted and sentenced two men for attempting to murder two individuals during a violent knife attack near Mambos nightclub in Baga more than a decade ago.
Sessions Judge Irshad Agha convicted Alistair Pulickar and Caitan D’Souza under Section 307 (attempt to murder) read with Section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, sentencing them to four years of simple imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on each convict. Failure to pay the fine will attract an additional six months of simple imprisonment.
The incident dates back to January 19, 2013, when the two accused attacked Sonu Soni and Krishna Kumar Soni as they were walking towards a nightclub. According to the prosecution, the accused, acting with common intention, stabbed both victims with knives, inflicting grievous injuries and chasing them even as they attempted to flee.
The court observed that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and ordered that the fine, if recovered, be handed over to victim Krishna Kumar Soni.
The case was based on a complaint filed by Sonu Soni on the day of the assault alleging that after briefly losing sight of his friend Krishna, he turned back and witnessed the accused attacking him.
When he intervened, both were stabbed multiple times. The assailants fled but returned to continue the attack before fleeing again as police and bystanders arrived.
The period of imprisonment already served by the convicts during the course of the trial will be set off against the total sentence, the court ruled.
