Death sentence for murder of fiancée after 20 years

By Sumanasiri Gunatileka   

An accused who stood indicted with the murder of his fiancée was found guilty and sentenced to death by Monaragla High Court Judge Damith Nalinda Hewawasam.   On June 01, 2006 He had strangled to death a young woman Anjali Chaturika Soumya (27) of Diviyapola in Medagama  and burnt the body. The accused Pathiranage Don Asela Prabhath Mihiranga Weerasinghe of Balagolla in Kandy was 27 years of age at the time of the incident. They had been having an affair for a long time before the incident. Sergeant 5610 Sarath of Medagama police giving evidence for the prosecution stated that the accused had strangled to death the young woman during an altercation.    Delivering the death sentence the judge held that the prosecution had established the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt security a conviction.   State Counsel Duminda De Silva prosecuted while Attorneys at Law U.R.DE Silva and Susantha Ratnayake appeared for the accused.