By Dileep Jayasekara

Tangalle presiding High Court Judge R. A. S. Sapuvida delivering the death sentence on an accused in a murder held in open court that he would not adhere to the conventional etiquettes of switching off the fans and standing from the bench before delivering the death sentence and breaking the nib of the pen after placing the signature.

He pointed out that these etiquettes would not serve any purpose unless the death sentence delivered by the court was not implemented. He told the open court that he would deliver death sentence in that case as a judgment in a normal case.

The convicted accused was Rajapakselage Lal Ranjan of Walasmulla who had on October 16, 2006, caused the death of Subesinghe Kattadige Saindara of that village.
The judge held that the death sentence delivered by the High Court and confirmed by the Supreme Court for the murder of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya has not been implemented, while the death sentence on several other murder convicts had been released on amnesty after serving a jail term. The High Court Judge R. A. S. Sapuvida further stated that he would not adhere to the usual etiquettes followed when delivering the death sentence of an average person.

State Counsel Gayan L  Perera prosecuted.

• He pointed out that these etiquettes would not serve any purpose unless the death sentence delivered by the court was not implemented