Prosecution witness remanded

Contradictory statements before courts

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo High Court Judge W.A.T. Ratnayake ordered the remand of a prosecution witness in a murder case when the state counsel submitted that he was making contradictory statements in his evidence before the Court.

The Court remanded U.K. Ranil Indrajith until May 31, when State Counsel Shanil Kularatne submitted that prosecution witness was contradicting himself in his evidence that was prejudicial to the case.

Indrajith was giving evidence where four persons were indicted for the murder of Upali Solomons alias Rohitha at Maligawatta on October 19, 1999.

A.M. Mohamed Siras, M.L.A. Don Usitha, M.B. Mohamed Faiser and S. F. M. Fahil alias Farji were indicted for the murder of Solomons.

Giving evidence before High Court, Indrajith yesterday said that he heard a sound similar to the firecrackers from the victim's house. When he went into that direction, he saw four people running away from the house.

State Counsel submitted that witness Indrajith had told the Maligawatta Magistrate Court that he was an eye witness. He told the Magistrate that four persons went towards the house carrying pistols. Two entered the house and shot Solomons while the remained broke the glass of the window and shot at Solomon.

The State Counsel submitted that those accused had been served indictment based on the evidence given by Indrajith at the Magistrate Court. If witness did not tell at the MC that he did not see the shooting, the accused in this case would not have been indicted.

The State Counsel said that evidence by the witness was prejudicial to the case and pleaded for his remand. The Court remanded the witness until an action against him is meted out.