HC acquits man with unsound mind accused of killing son

Observing that a person with an unsound mind cannot have any intention or knowledge over his actions at the time of occurrence, the Madras High Court today acquitted an engineer charged with murdering his son by giving sleeping pills and then attempting to commit suicide.
"From the medical evidence, it has been clearly established that the accused was suffering from unsoundness of mind at the time of occurrence in terms of Section 84 of IPC and therefore the act of the accused in causing death of his son as well as in attempting to commit suicide would not make out any offence. Thus, the accused is entitled for acquittal," the court said.

The division bench, comprising Justices M Jaichandren and S Nagamuthu, stated this while allowing a criminal appeal by Steepens, challenging a June 24, 2010 verdict, sentencing him to life imprisonment.
The prosecution case was that an accident took place in October 2008, claiming the life of his wife and rendering him immobile. As a result, he lost his well-paid job and was unable to make ends meet.
Hence, out of frustration, he resolved to take the extreme step on July 08, 2009. Unfortuntely, the child died but Steepen survived.
Later, he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the court.

The bench observed "the nature of poison could not be detected. It is not every homicide which is made punishable."
"The culpability as defined under Sect 299 of IPC which talks about the intention to cause death and bodily injury and the knowledge on the part of the accused that his act is likely to result in death, cannot be attributed to this case as the person who is of unsound mind cannot have any intention or knowledge with regard to his acts.