Last-seen theory potent only if time gap is small, says court

Though the 'last seen' theory is effective to nail perpetrators in a murder case, it can be used only when the time gap between the point when the deceased and accused were last seen together, and the deceased found dead, is small enough.

- SIDDHARTH PRABHAKAR @Chennai

Using this dictum laid out by higher courts, a Kancheepuram district sessions court, on April 7, acquitted three men accused of murdering their friend, near Manimangalam, around 50 km from Chennai, in March 2013.

As per evidence in the case, the court found two of the accused took the deceased on their bike on March 20, and his body was found two days later.