Death of Dinesh Schaffter GA’s report to be forwarded to panel of medical experts

• This order was made after considering a request made by the counsel  who watched the interest of the family of Dinesh Schaffter

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda  

The Colombo Chief Magistrate’s court yesterday ordered the Court Registrar that the Government Analyst’s report pertaining to the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter be forwarded to the panel of medical experts who were appointed to perform a fresh post mortem inquiry into Schaffter’s death.   

Colombo Additional Magistrate Rajindra Jayasuriya made this order after taking into consideration a request made by the counsel who watched the interest of the family of Dinesh Schaffter.  

President’s Counsel Anuja Premaratne appearing for the aggrieved party highlighted the necessity of forwarding the findings of the Government Analyst for the perusal of forensic and medical experts who are currently performing a fresh post mortem inquiry.  

On February 27, the Court appointed a five-member-panel of medical experts to perform a fresh post mortem inquiry into the death of businessman Dinesh Schaffter, in order to ascertain whether the death was a murder or suicide. The five-member-panel comprised Professor Asela Mendis (Chairman) Professor B.C.R. Perera, Professor D.H.S. Fernando and two JMO’s Dr. Siva Subramanium and Dr. B.R. Ruwanpura. They have been tasked with performing a fresh inquiry to decide the actual cause of death for businessman Dinesh Schaffter.  

The aggrieved party had highlighted several contradictions and inconsistencies in the first postmortem report compiled by the Colombo Judicial Medical Officer.

• The aggrieved party had highlighted several contradictions and  inconsistencies in the first postmortem report compiled by the Colombo JMO
• PC Anuja Premaratne highlighted the necessity of forwarding the findings of the Government Analyst for the perusal of forensic and medical experts