Man gets 13 years' RI for stabbing mother-in-law

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: High Court Judge Upali Abeyratne yesterday sentenced a convict who pleaded guilty to stabbing his mother-in-law to death to 13 years' rigorous imprisonment. Court also imposed a Rs. 5,000 fine and another six months RI in default.

Sampath Buddhika Silva, 39 stabbed Karuna Devapri Persival on March 30, 2003. She died at the Kalubowila Hospital.

The Attorney General indicted Silva with five counts including committing the murder of Persival and injuring Charika Shakthi Anuradha in the same incident.

It was revealed that Silva's wife Anuradha was living at her parental house with her parents and two children. Silva was living separately since 2002 as a result of a family confrontation. The family got together on Sundays.

One Sunday, Silva had threatened his wife and her parents following an argument with his wife. Later Silva had stabbed his mother-in-law at her residence. She died at the hospital. His wife, Anuradha also suffered injuries in the struggle.

State Counsel Asad Navavi appeared for the prosecution.