The Attorney General is to dispatch indictments on Thursday on six people including the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana who stands accused in the killing of British tourist Khuram Shaikh and causing grievous bodily harm on his girlfriend.

A special prosecutor is also to be appointed by the Attorney General to prosecute in the case.

A direct indictment is a special procedure used in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the Attorney General. It results in the case being directly sent for trial devoid of the preliminary inquiries.

Out of the eight accused, two are to be discharged because of the non-availability of evidence against them.

The case which caught worldwide media and diplomatic attention is to be heard in the Colombo High Court after a transfer was sought by the Attorney General because of the fact that one of the accused is a provincial politician.

Eight persons were remanded as suspects in the killing of British tourist Khuram Shaikh Zaman on Christmas Eve in 2011. They are also charged with causing grievous injury to his Russian partner, Victoria Alexandravona.

Attorney General Palitha Fernando PC speaking to the Daily Mirror said the department would take all efforts to ensure justice was meted out.

“We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring justice and a special prosecutor will be appointed to prosecute this case” he said. (Hafeel Farisz)