Acquittal in Death Penalty Case

The Lahore High Court, sitting as a Division Bench, recently overturned a death sentence in a high-profile murder case. Our Chambers represented the appellant in this matter, where the Court’s ruling reaffirmed one of the fundamental principles of criminal law: it is better that ten guilty persons be acquitted than one innocent person be wrongly convicted.

Facts of the Case

The prosecution alleged that the appellant, along with others, fatally shot the victim following a dispute. Two eyewitnesses claimed to have seen the incident. The Trial Court issued a death penalty to our client.

Our Chambers represented by Barrister Haider Ali Najafi was appointed to represent the appellant during the appeal before the Lahore High Court. From the outset, we focused on a detailed review of the record, highlighting inconsistencies between the prosecution’s evidence and the medical findings. We examined the testimony of eyewitnesses, drawing the Court’s attention to their absence during critical investigative steps and the lack of identification of the deceased. 

After a careful review of the record, the Court identified multiple gaps in the prosecution’s case. Both eyewitnesses asserted they were present during the incident, yet neither of them was present when the Investigating Officer arrived or during the completion of police formalities. The witnesses also never identified the dead body, a fact that the Court held cast serious doubt on their credibility.

The medical evidence conflicted with the prosecution’s theory. The presence of blackening around the entry wounds was inconsistent with the distances recorded in the sealed site plans. Ambiguities in the site plan further undermined the prosecution’s version of events. The same set of witnesses had already been disbelieved with respect to certain co-accused who were acquitted, making it legally untenable to rely on their testimony for the remaining accused without independent corroboration.

This resulted in acquittal of our client who was awarded death penalty by the Trial Court. Detailed judgment is attached below.

We remain committed to handling complex criminal litigation with the same level of precision and dedication. For those interested in discussing similar legal challenges or the implications of this judgment, our team is always open to professional dialogue.