SC commutes death sentence of father in case for killing son

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday commuted the death sentence of one person, convicted and sentenced to death in a case lodged over killing his four-year-old son, to 10-year imprisonment.

An Appellate Division full bench headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain pronounced the judgement after holding virtual hearing on the jail appeal filed by the convicted father Jasim Rari.

Shahin, 4, was killed by his father Jasim Rari on April 1, 2007, and the victim’s mother Fatema Begum on April 2 filed the case with Mehendiganj Police Station in Barishal over the killing.

Barishal District and Sessions Judge Court on July 28, 2008, sentenced Jasim to death, making him file a jail appeal against the conviction with the High Court. The High Court on November 14, 2013, upheld the lower court sentence. Jasim later filed a jail appeal against the High Court judgement and the apex court today came up with the judgement after holding a hearing on that plea.

Jasim, who has been in jail since 2007, can be released any day if no other cases are pending against him as he has been in jail more than 10 years.