1993 murder case finally sees justice

By Bhagya Silva   

Eight men convicted of murdering a woman by assaulting her with sharp weapons and clubs and causing grievous injuries to two others were today sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Judge Buddhika Sri Ragala.   

Delivering the judgment, the Judge held that the prosecution had proved the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.  

The court observed that the evidence established that the accused had committed the offences, which took place more than 32 years ago.   

The accused sentenced to death are P.A.K. Nishantha Kumara, Ishad Moses, Rohan Janaka Sampath Sagara, Anil Indrajith, Kanagaraja Thiron, Somarathna Silva, Hikkaduwa Liyanage Nihal and K.W. Ajith Kulathunga.   

The Attorney General, represented at the trial by Palitha Fernando, had indicted the accused on charges that on or about September 21, 1993, at Tharawatta in Colombo, they were members of an unlawful assembly formed with the common intention of causing injuries to H.B. Kusumawathi, together with the now deceased Velayutham Udayakumar.   

The indictment further alleged that, while acting as members of the unlawful assembly, the accused assaulted H.B. Kusumawathi with their hands, feet, sharp weapons and clubs, causing her death. They were also charged with inflicting grievous injuries on Kathiravelu Lingamoorthy and Jagath Siri Perera by attacking them with sharp weapons and clubs. The accused faced seven charges in total.   

When the case was taken up today for the delivery of the judgment, all the accused except the eighth accused, Ajith Kulathunga, were present in court.   

The Judge also issued an open warrant directing the arrest of Ajith Kulathunga, who failed to appear before court.