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AG contemplates Trial at Bar for student murder

by Sarath Malalasekera

The Attorney General K.C. Kamalasabeyson, PC contemplates setting up a Trail-at Bar, comprising three High Court Judges to hear the Ovitigala Vithanage Samantha murder case.

Samantha, a third year Management student of the Sri Jayawardhanapura University was killed in a brutal attack by several undergratuates at the Campus premises on November 7. Several other undergratuates were also injured in the attack. Samantha was a student who resisted ragging in university.

In connection with the killing of Samantha, the Mirihana Police which is conducting investigations assisted by the CID took fourty-six suspects, all undergratuates into custody. They were remanded pending completion of the ongoing investigations.

When the case was called on Thursday before the Gangodavila Magistrate and Additional District Judge Pradeep Hettiarachchi, State Counsel Harippriya Jayasundera filing a further report in connection with the murder of Samantha, said that the Attorney General has directed her to move court to discharge 19 suspects due to lack of evidence.

The investigations into the killing is not over yet. If any evidence is found against any of the suspects released they would be taken into custody again, State Counsel told court.

If the investigators found no evidence against any of the suspects now in remand, they too will be released in due course, State Counsel Jayasundera said.

The other twenty-seven suspects were further remanded till February 6.

The nineteen suspects who were released on the direction of the Attorney General were R.M. Thusara Ranasinghe, Thiwanka Liyanage, Ranil de Alwis Samarawickrema, M.D. Manjula Thushara, G.L. Ranjaya Peiris, Susantha Dias Liyanage, O.L. Rasika Manoj Liyanagama, A.M. Gamini Jayawickrema, K. Hesara Anajeewa, V. M. Anil Kumarasiri, C.M. P. Sanjeewa Kumara, P.D. Ravindra Sanjeewa Pethiyagoda, P.R. Nalaka Hemantha Ratnayake, Amila Prasaad Bandara Rajakaruna, W.M. Manju Sri Palitha, R.M. Manjula Jayasekera, J. L. Chaminda Ruwan Jayawardena, Sisira Kumara Ratnayake and R.L. Anthony de Mendis.

Two more suspects will be produced before an identification parade on January 21.

Western Province South DIG is directing investigations conducted by Senior SP Raja Weerakoon assisted by Inspector Ajith Yapa Dahanayake, SIs H.M. Sumanaratne, S. Tillekeratne and Sergeant W.K. Wijesinghe of the Mirihana Police.

Suneetha Nanayakkara, Wasantha Ranasinghe, Ratha Gamage, Geetha Mandalawatte, Ramani Kularatne, Janaka Dias, Vidura G. Manchanayake, Sunil Hettiarachchi, Padma Kumar Senaratne, Luckshman Galhena and Ranjith Sudasinghe appeared for the suspects.

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