Lucknow, July 20 -- The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has upheld the life sentences of two accused in an over 39-year-old murder case from Hardoi district but acquitted them of the rioting charge in the case.

The court considered the dying declaration recorded in the case as crucial evidence and their appeals on the murder charge were dismissed.

A division bench of Justice Rajnish Kumar and Justice Babita Rani passed the judgment on July 8, on an appeal filed by the accused. The order was uploaded later.

The case pertained to the Harpalpur police station area of Hardoi district. According to the prosecution, on April 7, 1987 a man, Subedar, was attacked with firearms and sticks. The seriously injured man's dying declaration...