Sivaram jury trial fixed for May 14

Sandasen Marasinghe

COLOMBO: Colombo High Court Judge W.A.T. Ratnayake yesterday fixed the jury trial of the murder of Sivaram Darmaratnam the columnist and founder of the Tamilnet website for May 14.

The court also issued notice on the prosecution witnesses to appear before the Court on May 14. Sivaram alias Taraki was abducted and murdered on April 28, 2005 at Rajagiriya.

The Attorney General's Department filed direct indictment before the High Court against Arumugam Sri Scandarajah alias Peter for the alleged murder of Sivaram Darmaratnam. Senior State Counsel Achala Vengappuli appearing for the Attorney-General yesterday submitted before the Court that the witnesses of Colombo Crime Division and other witnesses had not received notice so that they did not appear before the Court.

The AG's Department filed the case against Scandarajah with four counts for conspiring to abduct Sivaram and murder him, with others unknown to the prosecution.

According to the charges Scandarajah engaged in the conspiracy at Colombo, Bambalapitiya and Maharagama between January 01 and April 28 in 2005.

According to the indictment Sivaram was murdered on April 28, 2005 and his two mobile phones were looted away by Scandarajah with the others unknown to the prosecution.

Twenty eight productions were included by the prosecution including a revolver, bullets, spent 9 mm bullet cases, two cameras, a cassette recorder, diary, purse, a pair of spectacles and a shirt and a trouser. The prosecution produced 31 witnesses.

President's Counsel M.L.M. Ameen appeared for the Defence.