Tangalle PS Chairman granted bail

19 November 2012 10:10 am

Eight suspects including the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman who were in remand for nearly 11 months over the alleged killing of a Briton and criminal assault on a Russian woman in Tangalle on Christmas Day last year were today released on bail.

Tangalle Provincial High Court Judge Lalith Wijesekera ordered the suspects to mark their presence at the Tangalle Police Station on the first and third Sundays of each month and warned them not to intimidate the witnesses. He said if his instructions were violated he would be compelled to extend re-remand them.

The Judge ordered the suspects to surrender their passports to any court and in the absence of a passport an affidavit to be sworn to that affect.

He instructed the suspects not to change their residences, and that those signing as sureties should be residents of an area within the jurisdiction of Tangalle High Court and certified by the Grama Niladhari.

The following are the suspects granted bail: Tangalle PS chairman Sampath Chandra P. Vidanapathirana; W.P. Chaturanga; O.A. Lahiru Kelum; U.S. Deshapriya (Pannipitiya), M.S. Sarath alias Sahan, S.P.J. Chaturanga; H.P. Nuwan Chintaka and E.P. Nadeera.

They were indicted on charges of having shot to death M.Z. Shaif (32) a Briton and inflicting serious injuries to his Russian fiancée Victoria Alexandra (23) at Medilla guest house in Tangalle on Christmas Day last year.

Attorneys Nishantha Sandhabarana, Upali Mohotti, Iroshini Ramasinghe and Nilushi Weeraratne appeared for the defence while the prosecution was led by Aparna Suwandurugoda. (Ariyadasa Kodituwakku)