Describing as one of the rarest of rare cases the brutal rape and murder of a girl by a youth, the Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence awarded to him. A Bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and A.K. Patnaik said: “We are satisfied that the extreme depravity with which the offences were committed (with both her hands tied) and the merciless manner in which death was inflicted, brings them within the category of the rarest of rare cases which merits the death penalty, as awarded by the trial court and confirmed by the Karnataka High Court.”

Writing the judgment, Justice Kabir pointed out that the offences committed by B.A. Umesh were neither under duress nor on provocation, and an innocent life was snuffed out by him after committing violent rape. He did not feel any remorse over his acts, inasmuch as within two days of the incident he was caught by the local public while committing a similar offence in the house of another woman.

None of the mitigating factors indicated by the Supreme Court in earlier judgments would apply to the facts of this case, the Bench said. “The antecedents of the appellant and his subsequent conduct indicate that he is a menace to society and is incapable of rehabilitation.”

The Bench dismissed his appeal and directed the Registrar-General of the High Court to take steps to carry out the death sentence.