'Dead' witness appears in Court

Sandasen MARASINGHE

Colombo High Court yesterday issued notice on a Police Sergeant in connection with an information provided before the Court that stated a retired Police Inspector, witness of a case was dead while he was alive.

High Court Judge W.A.T. Ratnayake issued notice on Police Sergeant Leelaratne of Peliyagoda Police to appear before Court on October 14 when the Court found that retired IP Loku Kodagamage Don David was alive although Leelaratne had informed Court that he was dead.

The Court also issued notice on Peliyagoda Headquarters Inspector to appear before Court in person on the same day.

IP David appeared before Court yesterday as Court had ordered Sergeant Leelaratne on the previous day to submit the death certificate of IP David.

IP David was a witness in a murder case indicted against R.M. Kumara Udayaratne and R.M. Thilakaratne.

They were indicted allegedly for committing a murder at Dippitigoda, Kelaniya on December 29, 1990.

At the time the crime was committed IP David was attached to the Peliyagoda Police.

Senior State Counsel Prabodini Munasinghe appeared for the prosecution.