A woman who stood indicted with murder was found guilty and sentenced to death by Kegalle High Court Judge Menaka Wijesundera on February 14.

The accused Gallage Dona Dharmaratne Menike of Bulugahadeniya, Kegalle had caused the death of a young man by throwing acetic acid at him on February 7, 2006. The accused was 42 years old at the time of the incident.  The deceased Rajapakselage Prasanna Rajapakse (33) was a bachelor of the same village.

After a lengthy trial that lasted about six years, the accused was sentenced to death. When she was asked whether she wished to make any plea before the verdict was delivered, she said she was a widow and mother of two school going children and pleaded in mitigation. 

However, the Judge who refused her plea passed the death sentence. (Chaminda Jayalath)