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| Thursday, 3 March 2005 |
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by Sarath Malalasekera The four accused in the Katuneriya double murder case were sentenced to death by the Colombo High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday after the jury brought in a six to one verdict. The four accused are Naththandige Mary Julit Monica Fernando, wife of Minister of Christian and Parliamentary Affairs Milroy Fernando, Porukotuwage Ajith Priyankara Perera, Thammahetti Mudalige Don Neville Rohana Peiris and Udawewa Arachchige Sugath Krishantha Appu.
The fourth accused Sugath Krishantha Appu was not present during the trial and the case was heared in absentia. The accused were charged on six counts namely conspiring and abducting to murder of Charlotte Theresa Fernando and her domestic Teckla alias Seelawathie at Katuneriya on January 3, 1992. After three days summing up by the High Court Judge Abeyratne, the jury retired and took four hours and twenty minutes to deliberate. The first accused was also sentenced to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs.10,000 each. The other three accused were sentenced to sixty years rigours imprisonment and fined Rs.10,000 each. In default of the fine the accused were each further sentenced to two years RI. Sunil Shantha the driver of the vehicle which was used to commit the deed turned State witness and gave evidence for the prosecution. When the Judge asked the accused before sentence was passed on them, what they had to say all three accused who were in the dock said that they were innocent and had no hand in the killings. Then the Judge pronounced the death sentenced on the accused amidst an eerie backdrop, after the lights and the fans in the court house were knocked off. There was pin drop silence in the packed court house when the Judge eventually procunced the death sentenced. The four accused were earlier sentenced to death by the Chilaw High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne. They appealed against the High Court Judgement to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal after lengthy hearing ordered a re trial. Thirteen prosecution witnesses gave evidence during the trial which lasted 25 days. Senior State Counsel Sarath Jayamanne with State Counsel Lakmalee Karunanayake appeared for the prosecution. Udaya Rohan de Silva, Nihal Gunasinghe, Varuna Chandranath Weerasuriya and Bandula Gunaratne appeared for the defence. |
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