5 sentenced to death for 1998 murder

Five people, who stood trial for the murder of a 65-year-old man in Nagoda, Walakumbura back in 1998, were sentenced to death by the Galle High Court on Wednesday February 27.
 
The five men were accused of shooting and killing Kaikara Hewage Girigoris after the victim had allegedly plucked tea leaves without permission from the estate belonging to an army major.
 
The five suspects sentenced to death were Gnanasiri Karunaratne, Thilak Shantha, Suresh de Silva, Sujith Dhananjaya Weerasinghe and Dodangodage Don Heshan Nadeesha.

The murder took place on October 23, 1998 while seven persons were arrested at the time. Two suspects were later released on lack of evidence.
 
Following a lengthy trial, the five remaining suspects were proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt and were sentenced to death by the Galle High Court.

 

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