Teen pleads guilty to murdering SL student in UK

A Teenager has admitted to murdering a Sri Lankan pizza delivery driver attacked and killed in Sheffield on his last shift.

Kasim Ahmed, 18, from the Darnall area of the city pleaded guilty to the murder Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, a Sheffield Hallam IT graduate who had moved to the UK from his homeland in search of ‘a better life’ at Sheffield crown Court yesterday.

He had originally been due to stand trial at Sheffield Crown Court but entered a guilty plea. He admitted another two counts of robbery, which took place on October 27 last year - the same day Mr Peiris was killed.

A pre-sentence report will be prepared before Ahmed’s fate is decided.

Mr Peiris was preparing to begin a dream job as an IT consultant when he was called out to deliver a pizza in Southey Green. He was later found at the wheel of his Domino’s delivery car with stab wounds in his chest.

Close friends of the popular 25-year-old were present were present in the public gallery. A family liasion officer is feeding information back to his family in Sri Lanka.

His mother and father, Sarath and Sudarma, spoke of their ‘broken hearts’ following Mr Peiris’ death.

The trial of another man, Shamraze Khan, aged 25, from Southey Crescent, Sheffield will get underway at the court today.

Khan has pleaded not guilty to murdering Mr Peiris. Dressed in a black suit and tie in the dock yesterday Khan spoke only to confirm his name and enter the plea.

A jury has been sworn in. The prosecution will open the case today. The trial is expected to last two weeks. (Yorkshire Post)
Related link: