Main accused gets death penalty in Asiya rape, murder case as court completes trial in 20 days
The wife and two sons of prime accused Hitu Sheikh have been acquitted
Highlights:
- 8-year-old Asiya raped by her sister's father-in-law on 5 March night
- Critically injured Asiya died at CMH in Dhaka on 13 March
- Countrywide mass protests follow demanding exemplary punishment
- Case filed against four, including prime accused Hitu Sheikh, on 8 March
- Police submit charge sheet in court on 13 April
- Court framed charges against four accused on 23 April
- Hitu Sheikh confessed to committing the crime in court
- Court on 13 May set 17 May to deliver the verdict
A Magura court today (17 May) sentenced a man to death and acquitted three others in the much-talked-about verdict in the sensational rape and murder case of eight-year-old Asiya.
The trial has been completed in a record 20 days after the court started the trial with the hearing of testimonies from the plaintiff.
Delivering the verdict, Judge Md Zahid Hasan of the Magura Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal sentenced Hitu Sheikh, 50, the prime accused in the case and father-in-law of Asiya's sister, to death, reports UNB.
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Hitu's wife, Jabeda Begum, 40, and two sons, Sajib Sheikh, 20, and Ratul Sheikh, 25, were acquitted.
A total of 29 witnesses testified in the case, and seven pieces of evidence were seized, he added.
The rape took place on 5 March midnight, when the victim was visiting her sister's in-laws' house in Nijnanduali village of Sadar Upazila in Magura.
She went to bed with her sister that night, but around midnight, her sister found her missing and began searching for her.
After a frantic search, the girl was found unconscious a few yards from the house.
She was initially admitted to Magura General Hospital and later transferred to Faridpur Medical College Hospital as her condition worsened.
She was then moved to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and later to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka, where she died on 13 March.
The brutal incident sparked protests across the country. Students staged demonstrations on their campuses demanding capital punishment for the accused.
Police formally arrested Hitu Sheikh, his wife, and two sons after Asiya's mother filed the rape case against them on 8 March. Hitu's wife and sons were accused of helping him commit the crime and then attempting to cover it up.
The murder charge was added after Asiya passed away.
Sadar Police Station Sub-Inspector and case investigation officer Md Alauddin submitted the charge sheet in court on 13 April, naming the four accused.
On 23 April, the court framed charges against them.
Prime accused Hitu Sheikh was charged with rape and murder, and he made a confessional statement before the court.
On 13 May, Judge Zahid Hasan set 17 May to deliver the verdict following the closing arguments by the prosecution and the defence.
