PANAJI
The Supreme Court has granted interim relief to Zenito Cardozo in the 2009 Siridao gang war case, staying a recent order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa that had upheld his conviction and three-year sentence.
Cardozo had moved the apex court challenging the High Court’s October 10 judgment, which upheld his conviction for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and directed him to surrender before the Sessions Court by November 10.
The case dates back to May 10, 2009, when a deadly fight erupted between rival groups at a shack on Siridao beach. The prosecution argued that Cardozo, along with associates Mahavir Nadar and Domnic Nazareth, allegedly attacked members of the opposing group with glass bottles and knives, killing Santosh Kalel and Francis Manuel D’Souza alias Mirand.
The Agassaim police had initially charged the trio with murder. However, in July 2016, the Additional Sessions Court at Mapusa convicted Cardozo under Section 304 (II) of the IPC, ruling that the deaths were the result of a sudden fight and not a premeditated act.
He was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and another three years under Section 326, along with a fine of Rs 10,000.
Cardozo subsequently appealed the conviction before the High Court, which dismissed his plea last month and ordered his surrender.
