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Wife's murder: Husband, two others sentenced to death

From Fred Silva Jinasena, Telwatta group correspondent

The husband and two relatives of a common-law wife indicted with the murder of his legal wife were sentenced to death by Silani Karunaratna, Southern Provincial High Court Judge of Balapitiya after being found guilty by a jury.

Ex-soldier Inasi Saman Kumara de Silva alias Chandana of Kalupe, Hikkaduwa and Kaluwahandi Asantha Indikaratna alias Janaka of Kalupe uncle and brother of the common-law's wife and Walakada Gamage Kumarasiri of Kalupe, deceased's husband were indicted with committing the murder of Surangi Nirosha, 21, of Totagamuwa, Hikkaduwa at Totagamuwa on the Galle road in the Meetiyagoda police division July 11, 1996. The Judgement was given on January 8, 2003.

The trial lasted several days and included the evidence of sister of the murdered woman. Professor Dr. Chandrasiri Niriellage, J.M.O. Karapitiya Hospital, Galle has reported that the severe cut injuries on her chest, liver, neck, and genitals by stabbing with double-sided sharp knives.

As requested by the accused, the trial was conducted before a Jury.

It was recorded that this wife of 3rd accused had gone abroad for sometime, and during that period the 3rd accused had connected with another woman of that village illegally and casually. When his legal wife came back, there was a quarrel and she had left to her mother's house at Totagamuwa. In the meantime there were some land disputes too which they could not settle.

Finally the husband has planned to kill her with the help of illegal wife's uncle and brother.

The trial Judge having considered the totality of the evidence and submissions of state and defence counsels found all three accused guilty and passed death sentence on them. The Judgement consisted forty four pages.

Lalith Sampath Rathnayaka State Counsel prosecuted and Lalith Andrahannedi and Asoka Weerasinghe Attorney-at-Law appeared for accused.

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