20 August 2021 07:17 pm Views - 4803
The Colombo High Court has announced that 20-year-rigorous imprisonment was imposed against four accused including Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha former Chairman Sampath Vidanapathirana for murdering a British aid worker Khuram Sheikh, will be effective from July 18, 2014, the date the four accused were convicted.
The Court of Appeal's verdict regarding the appeal petitions filed by the accused was read out to the defence by High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige.
The Court was informed that appeals and counter appeals filed by the defence and the Attorney General at the Court of Appeal have been withdrawn by the parties.
Four convicts former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, Lahiru Kalum, Saman Deshapriya and Prageeth Chaturanga who were found guilty of killing British tourist Khuram Shaikh in December 2011 and for raping and brutally assaulting his fiancée while holidaying at the tourist resort of Tangalle were sentenced by the Colombo High Court in 2014.
While requesting to amend the punishments given to the convicts, the Attorney General also suggested through an appeal that these convicts should be given a death sentence or life imprisonment as they committed the murder using weapons after being members of an unlawful assembly.(Lakmal Sooriyagoda)