Supreme Court acquits remaining 3 accused in 2014 Kot Radha Kishan case
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has acquitted three individuals who had been sentenced to death in a 2014 case in which a Christian couple was burned alive in a brick kiln in Kasur’s Kot Radha Kishan over blasphemy allegations. The court overturned the death sentences of the three men and acquitted them after giving them the “benefit of doubt”, the 26-page judgement said. The court also rejected a…
The Supreme Court has acquitted three individuals who had been sentenced to death in a 2014 case involving the brutal murder of a Christian couple in a brick kiln in Kasur's Kot Radha Kishan. The court overturned the death sentences after finding the prosecution had failed to prove their guilt "beyond a shadow of doubt." The 26-page judgement also rejected appeals from 102 other individuals accused in the case.
The incident occurred on Nov 4, 2014, when a mob, incited by local mosque announcements, attacked the couple who were accused of blasphemy. The mob tormented and burned the couple alive in the kiln's furnace. The court acknowledged the "shocking and brutal" nature of the crime and emphasized its duty to ensure justice. It highlighted contradictions in the prosecution's case and a lack of independent corroboration for the claims against the petitioners.
The court found it "unbelievable" that witnesses didn't mention one accused's name, which was crucial to their testimony. The judgement also noted that none of the petitioners had burn injuries or protective gear, creating reasonable doubt about their involvement. The Supreme Court converted the jail petition into an appeal, set aside the lower courts' judgments, and ordered the release of the three acquitted men.
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