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Jayanti Reza Murder

HC commutes Azam Reza's death sentence

Staff Correspondent
The High Court (HC) yesterday commuted the death sentence of Azam Reza to life term imprisonment in the case filed in connection with the murder of Jayanti Reza, Azam's wife who was an architect and a schoolteacher.
The HC bench comprised of Justice AKM Fazlur Rahman and Justice ATM Fazle Kabir delivered the verdict reducing the sentence handed down by Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 of Dhaka in 2005.
The HC bench observed in the
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judgement that the sentence against Azam Reza was commuted since Azam was not a habitual offender.
"There was an unhappy matrimonial relationship between Azam Reza and Jayanti Reza and it was the root of the offence. Even though there was a motive behind the killing, it was not a planned murder. So the punishment of the offender was reduced to life term imprisonment from death sentence," Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Nahid Mahtab said quoting the HC observation.
The 1 IC delivered die judgment dismissing the appeal filed by Azam Reza against the trial court judgement.
Relatives of Jayanti Reza, who were present at die court, expressed their dissatisfaction and disappointment over die I IC verdict.
Sathee Munshi, sister of Jayanti
Reza, told newsmen that they would file an appeal with the Supreme Court against the HC verdict.
"We have not received justice from the High Court. We did not expect such a judgement from the High Court. The womenfolk have been defeated through this judgement," shesaid.
Jayanti Reza, a teacher of Australian International School, was killed on January 8, 2004. Police recovered her body hanging from the ceiling fan in their Banani house on January 9,200-1.
Jayanti's mother Lusil Sadckin had filed a general diary (GD) with Gulshan Police Station. In the GD, she mentioned that Azam murdered his wife with the intent to have actress Afsana Mimi as his life partner. Jayanti's mother later filed a case accusing Azam Reza, his sister Shampa Reza and Afsana Mimi of killing her daughter.
The Detective Branch (DB) of Police on March 30, 2004 indicted
Azam for murdering Jayanti and dropped the names of Shampa Reza and Afsana Mimi from the charge sheet on grounds that there was not enough evidence against the two.
Judge AR Masud of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 of Dhaka on January 17,2005 found Azam guilty and sentenced him to death.
Azam filed an appeal with the HCagainstthejudgement.
Over three years after the trial court's judgment, hearing of appeal and death reference against the verdict began in the HC on July 14
After examining relevant papers, documents, statements of the witnesses and hearing arguments from the stale and the defence counsels, the HC yesterday delivered lite judgement.
Advocate Khandkcr Mahbub Hossain appeared for Azam while DAG Nahid. assisted by advocate Adilur Rahman Khan, argued lor the state.