HC verdict in 7-murder cases now Aug 22

The High Court today deferred to August 22 the delivery of its verdict on the death references and appeals in the sensational Narayanganj seven-murder cases.

Read More: 26 get death for 7 murders

The bench of Justice Bhabani Prasad Singha and Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam, who were scheduled to deliver the verdict today, re-fixed the date but they did not disclose any reason behind the deferment of the judgement.

Also Read: When law enforcers turn law breakers

After hearing arguments from the state and the defence counsels on 33 dates, the judges on July 26 fixed today (August 12) for announcing the judgment.

If a lower court sentences a person to death, the judgment is examined by the HC through hearing arguments for confirming the sentence.

During the hearing on the death references and appeals in Narayanganj seven murder cases, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam prayed to the HC to uphold the trial court verdict, in which 26 people, including 16 former Rapid Action Battalion members, were sentenced to death and nine others jailed.

Defence counsels --Advocate Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury, Advocate SM Shahjahan, Advocate SM Abdul Mobin and Advocate Ahsan Ullah -- argued defending the accused.

Citing different grounds, they prayed for acquittal of their clients.

On January 16, a Narayanganj court found 35 people, including 25 former Rab officials and expelled ruling Awami League man Nur Hossain, guilty of abducting and murdering seven people and destroying evidence in April 2014.

Bodies of the seven victims, including Narayanganj City Corporation councillor Nazrul Islam and senior lawyer Chandan Sarker, were found floating in the Shitalakkhya river after they were abducted on April 27, 2014.