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By Indeewara Thilakarathne

The beading was fixed to the windscreen of the van which came under fire, said Government Analyist Gamini Gunatilaka testifying before the Trial-at-Bar in the Colombo High Courts yesterday.

The Trial-at-Bar comprised High Court judges Erick Basnayaka (President), Deepali Wijesundara and Sunil Rajapaksa.

Cross examined by the defence counsel Tirantha Walaliyadda, the witness said that he did not take measurements of the windscreen and the beading which was fixed on to the windscreen.The compatibility of the windscreen with the beading was tested on by juxtaposing them.

When the defence counsel inquired about the beading produced which was found more longer than the windscreen, the witness said that it became little longer after it being cut into several pieces for examination.

He admitted that he did not measure it up at the laboratory.If the beading was measured up it could have inflict damages on the important bullet signs on it. Gamini Gunatilaka said that weapon or the tool that caused marks on the beading could not be determined.

Counsel: "How could you see the microscopic marks on the beading ?"

Witness: "No, they were quite clear to me".

Counsel; "Why didn't you take plaster cast of those scars on the beading ?'

Witness : "If a suspected tool has been listed as productions , it could have been done".

Counsel: "If some suspected found later how could you compare that with plastic cast ?."

Witness: "None of those marks were large enough for plaster casting. So it is an extremely difficult task."

Counsel: "You have mentioned a hole in the windscreen and some cracks ?."

Witness: "No".

He said that the cracks and marks on windscreen and the beading could be, some times , caused simultaneously and he was certain that the beading was fixed on to windscreen.

Two scars on the beading and those on the windscreen are compatible with one another.

Further hearing put off for October 6.

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