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Bharatha killing: soldier gives evidence

02 Aug 2013 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

An STF soldier giving evidence in the non-summary trial into the killing of former presidential adviser Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and three others during Local Government elections at Mulleriyawa said parliamentarian Duminda Silva who came to the Rahula Vidyalaya polling booth at Angoda in a motorcade assaulted candidate Prasanna Solangaarachchi’s the sister-in-law.

STF soldier S.M.S. Kumara made this assertion before Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage.

Witness Kumara said on the day of the incident he was assigned duties at the Rahula College polling centre at Angoda with four others. He said they were posted there for duties by an ASP and DIG.

He said in the evening Duminda Silva who came there in a motorcade went up to three women who were standing near the polling booth and asked one of the women to whom she voted.

The witness said he then saw Mr. Silva assaulting one of the women and she ran towards a house nearby. He said he came to know later that woman who was assaulted was Mr. Solangaaratchchi’s sister-in-law. The witness said he made entries in his pocket book and made a statement to the CID seven days later which was read over to the witness yesterday before the court and which statement the witness accepted as correct.

He said he saw a person named Chaminda who came with Duminda Silva on the day of the incident at the CID office.

However when the Magistrate questioned the witness whether the person was in courtroom yesterday, the he answered in negative.

Another witness W. Dayananda of Himbutana Lane told the Magistrate that the statement read over to him before giving evidence in court was erroneous and said on the day of the incident on his way home he saw two injured people on the road and with the help of others he sent them in a vehicle to hospital.

Duminda Silva and 12 other suspects are accused of having killed Mr. Premamachandra and three others. (T.Farook Thajudeen)

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Bharatha killing: soldier gives evidence

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