5 October 2021 12:00 am Views - 225
By Farook Thajudeen
Twenty-five suspects, accused of the terrorist attacks on three churches and three hotels in April on Easter Sunday were charged before the Special Trial -at- Bar yesterday. Twenty-four accused who were brought before the Special Trial-at-bar were served with indictments by the Court.
However, the 25th suspect was not brought to court since he is down with Covid.
Consequent to serving indictments the accused Counsel pleaded that the indictment be served to the accused with Tamil translation.
The trial–at–bar judges considering the pleadings of the accused counsel postponed the case for November 23 and ordered to serve Tamil translations to the accused.
The Attorney General had charged the 25 accused on 23,270 charges over the killing of 269 civilians on 2019 Easter Sunday.
Deputy Solicitor General Haripriya Jayasundera appearing for the prosecution told court that the Police is conducting impartial investigations and the government had already obtained foreign assistance from countries like the USA and Australia to conduct forensic investigations. The DSG further emphasised that the government is conducting investigations impartially or without bias.
The three trial- at- bar Judges Damith Totawatte, Amal Ranaraja and N. Marasinghe postponed further inquiries for November 23 and ordered the prosecution to provide translations of the plaints to the accused in the languages they request.
The accused were charged under PTA for conspiring to murder, aiding and abetting, collecting arms and ammunition and attempted murder.
The Chief Justice had appointed a special three-member High Court bench to hear the cases.