Uganda's Supreme Court acquitted Davinder Kumar of...
Uganda's Supreme Court acquitted Davinder Kumar of murder, but confirmed the death sentence against his brother, Kooky Sharma, for killing his wife
1 MIN READ
Uganda's Supreme Court acquitted Davinder Kumar of murder, but confirmed the death sentence against his brother, Kooky Sharma, for killing his wife.
Sharma and Kumar, Indian businessmen, were on their last appeal against the death sentence after being convicted in 2000 by the High Court in Kampala.Kooky's last hope now is a pardon by the President.
A panel of five justices, chaired by Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, made a unanimous decision in a judgment that was read by Justice John Wilson Tsekooko.Kooky and Kumar were indicted for killing Kooky's wife, Renu Joshi, by electric burns on the Christmas Eve of 1997 at their home in Old Kampala. Kooky and Joshi had two children.
Kooky was led into the courtroom on handcuffs with another inmate who was also on last appeal against conviction and death sentence for aggravated robbery.Kumar walked in freely but under heavy escort. Davinder wept.The justices said the conviction was based on circumstantial evidence.
"There is no burden of proof on the accused person who puts forward an alibi as his defence. The burden lies on the prosecution, which in this case, it failed to prove," the justices said. The prosecution failed to prove Kumar was in Kooky's house at the time of death, they said.
Sharma and Kumar, Indian businessmen, were on their last appeal against the death sentence after being convicted in 2000 by the High Court in Kampala.Kooky's last hope now is a pardon by the President.
A panel of five justices, chaired by Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki, made a unanimous decision in a judgment that was read by Justice John Wilson Tsekooko.Kooky and Kumar were indicted for killing Kooky's wife, Renu Joshi, by electric burns on the Christmas Eve of 1997 at their home in Old Kampala. Kooky and Joshi had two children.
Kooky was led into the courtroom on handcuffs with another inmate who was also on last appeal against conviction and death sentence for aggravated robbery.Kumar walked in freely but under heavy escort. Davinder wept.The justices said the conviction was based on circumstantial evidence.
"There is no burden of proof on the accused person who puts forward an alibi as his defence. The burden lies on the prosecution, which in this case, it failed to prove," the justices said. The prosecution failed to prove Kumar was in Kooky's house at the time of death, they said.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: New Vision, Africa News Service, 16/04/2002)
KEEP READING
ALL THE NEWS · DEATH PENALTY On the same front

DEATH PENALTYSEPTEMBER 2, 2026
IRAN - Aziz Roshanayi executed in Shiraz on September 2

DEATH PENALTYSEPTEMBER 2, 2026
IRAN - 3 men executed in Mashhad on September 2

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Pakistan: ASI sentenced to death for killing two brothers in Swabi

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
Bangladesh: HC confirms death sentence of lone accused for rape, murder of 8-year-old Asiya

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 31, 2026
IRAN - Mojtaba Salahi Laghani executed in Rasht on September 2

DEATH PENALTYAUGUST 30, 2026
