The Colombo High Court has sentenced eight individuals to death after finding them guilty of murder charges following a lengthy trial.
The verdict was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Buddika C. Ragala, who ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Seven of the defendants appeared before court today (08), while proceedings continued in the absence of one other accused, according to the court’s decision.
The case was filed by the Attorney General in connection with the deaths of Hewa Batagoda Kusumawathie and Velāyudham Udayakumar, as well as injuries caused to several others, during an incident reported in the Tharawatta area within the Colombo court jurisdiction on or around September 21, 1997, Ada Derana reporter said.
The prosecution stated that the killings occurred after a dispute escalated into a violent clash.
After considering evidence presented during the prolonged trial, the Colombo High Court judge concluded that the allegations against the defendants had been established beyond reasonable doubt and ordered the imposition of the death penalty.
