#credibility of witnesses

Jharkhand High Court sets aside a conviction under Section 307 IPC, ruling that delayed witness identification, non-examination of the first informant, and biased, contradictory testimony from villagers fail to meet the threshold of credible evidence. The judgment reinforces that ocular testimony alone, without corroboration, cannot sustain a conviction in attempt-to-murder cases.

Gauhati High Court rules that the sole testimony of an injured eyewitness, if credible and consistent, can sustain a conviction under Section 302 IPC even in the absence of seizure evidence or corroboration from other witnesses. The judgment underscores that minor inconsistencies do not invalidate testimony if the core account remains unshaken, reinforcing the reliability of direct victim testimony in criminal trials.

Chhattisgarh High Court acquitted an accused under Section 307 IPC, ruling that the absence of motive, the complainant's history of mental illness, and contradictory testimonies created reasonable doubt. The judgment underscores that circumstantial evidence in attempt-to-murder cases must exclude all hypotheses of innocence, especially where witness credibility is compromised.