Death reference of Minni, five others reaches HC

The death reference of the six convicts in the sensational Rifat Sharif murder case reached the High Court (HC) on Sunday, to examine the trial court's verdict.

Officials of Barguna District and Sessions Judges Court which sentenced the six accused including Rifat's wife Ayesha Siddika Minni to death, brought the documents of the case, including the judgment, to the HC, said Md Saifur Rahman, spokesperson of the Supreme Court and also a special officer of the High Court division.

He said the HC will now take necessary measures in line with relevant rules.

Meanwhile, Mozammel Hossain Kishore, father of condemned convict Minni and father-in-law of slain internet service provider Rifat, has come to Dhaka to file appeal against the verdict. Minni's lawyer ZI Khan Panna said, "We found the copy of the judgment in our hand. We will file appeal against the verdict after reviewing it."

High Court division special officer Mr Rahman said as per rules, the HC authorities will scrutinise the documents and then prepare paper books for hearing on the death reference.

If a lower court sentences any person to death in a case, its judgment is examined by the HC through hearing arguments for confirmation of the death sentence. The case documents and judgment reach as death reference to the HC from the lower court in seven days after the latter delivers the verdict. Besides, the convicts also have the opportunity to file appeals against the verdict with the top court.

The Barguna court on Sept 30 this year handed down the death sentence to Minni and five others for killing Rifat Sharif, 25, in broad daylight in Barguna town in June 2019.

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