Identification of Accused in Court Is Substantive Evidence, Mandatory Even If Witness Personally Knows the Accused: Kerala High Court

The Kerala High Court has set aside the conviction of three men who were previously found guilty of criminal trespass and mischief by fire, emphasizing critical procedural lapses in the trial court's handling of witness identification and the lack of proof of property ownership or possession. The decision came in the appeal filed against the judgment of the Additional Sessions Judge (Adhoc)-II, Thodupuzha, which had convicted the accused under Section…