9 November 2021 02:02 am Views - 210
Lakmal Sooriyagoda
Beginning with the appeal petition filed on behalf of Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekera alias Choka Malli, counsel for accused-appellant Jayasekera submitted to Court of Appeal yesterday that the real murderer of this incident which took place in 2015 during the Presidential Election was set free by the Attorney General.
On July 31, 2020, Premalal Jayasekera and two others were convicted by Ratnapura High Court for committing the murder of Shantha Dodamgoda while he was engaged in decorating an election stage in the Kahawatta area.
Through their appeal, three accused-appellants stated that they were seeking the jurisdiction of Court of Appeal to review and set aside their conviction and the death sentence imposed by Ratnapura High Court.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahetty appearing for third accused Premalal Jayasekera commenced his oral submissions and alleged that the Attorney General had filed indictments selectively, excluding the real culprits responsible for the commission of the offences.
Making submissions on behalf of the two other accused-appellants, President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne said that the witnesses into the case are not reliable since they were interested. He further said the entirety of the evidence was partial and that the judgment of the High Court to convict the accused was not sound in law.
The Court of Appeal two-judge-bench comprising Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice R. Gurusinghe fixed the appeal petitions for further argument on November 25. Presidents counsel Nalin Laduwahetty with counsel Niran Anketell, Hafeel Farisz, Vajira Ranasinghe, Kavithri Ubayasekara and Buddhika Chandrasekara appeared for Premalal Jayasekara.
President’s Counsel Saliya Pieris appeared for the aggrieved party.
Deputy Solicitor General Dilan Ratnayake appeared for the Attorney General.