School girl murder: suspects remanded till July 10

Jayantha de Silva

The three suspects who were taken into custody in connection with the alleged abduction, sexual abuse and murder of a seven year old grade 1 school girl in Narahenpita were yesterday produced before Additional Magistrate Nishantha Peries and remanded till July 10.

The first suspect is the uncle of the deceased.

On Saturday (30) the girl had gone to the home of her aunt named Sugandinie, the sister of the first suspect.

She was planning to view a church procession which was billed to pass the house. She had told her aunt that she is hungry and wanted to eat some food.

At night the first suspect had visited the house and was seen by his sister going out with the girl.

Around 8.50 pm the girls mother, a domestic aid had inquired about her daughter, but had been unable to trace her whereabouts.

When questioned the suspect had denied going out with the girl.

Subsequently, the girl's father, Velu Krishnakumar, an employee of a petrol shed and a tippler, had complained to the Police.

A woman who had seen a body floating in the canal in the vicinity of Gunaratne Place in Narahenpita had phoned some people who informed the Police. Police were able to trace the suspect by examining his underwear and shirt .The other two suspects were taken into custody on interrogation of the first suspect.

JMO K.M.Mahesan conducted the postmortem. Investigations were conducted by OIC Aruna Chandrapala.

IP Sanjeewa Bandara and PS Sumathipala prosecuted.