New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday acquitted a woman of attempt to murder charges in a case of stabbing, observing that she acted without any “premeditated intent” and in a moment of provocation.However, Pitamber Dutt of Patiala House Court held her guilty of ‘attempt to culpable homicide not amounting to murder’ — a lesser offence — noting that the prosecution had established that she inflicted a stab injury on her live-in partner’s chest with a kitchen knife.The offence carries a minimum sentence of three years in jail apart from a fine and a maximum of seven years.The case dates to June 10, 2023, when the woman, Babie Lalngaihawmi, stabbed her boyfriend, Samuel Rokhrieo, after she found him scrolling through photos of his former girlfriend. This led Babie to believe that he was cheating on her. Just after injuring him, Babie informed a friend of his of her act and took Samuel first to a private medical facility and then to Safdarjung Hospital.The defence argued that her act was not pre-planned but occurred in the heat of the moment due to “emotional provocation” and that the prosecution admitted that there was no enmity between the two prior to the incident and both were “in a live in relationship for the past one year”. Samuel also said they were living like “husband and wife”.Agreeing with the defence, the judge observed that the “circumstance was sufficient to give a reasonable belief to the accused that the injured was playing with her emotions and had an inclination towards his ex-girlfriend.” The court further noted Babie’s action was committed on the “spur of the moment” after she “lost her senses” due to her boyfriend’s conduct. The court also noted that she stabbed Samuel only once, leaving “not an iota of doubt that she had no intention to commit a murder”.
