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29 March 2024

Teenager jailed after punch leads to death of Lankan

Published
By Correspondent

A teenager has been jailed for manslaughter after punching a man in the street causing him to fall and hit his head.

Ponnuthurai Nimalaraja, a Sri Lankan and father of two, died in hospital a week after he was found seriously injured at the junction of Gipsy Lane and Northfield Road, in Northfields, Leicester, 'Ceylon Today' reported.

The 15 year boy who cannot be identified because of his age was sentenced to three years in a young offender’s centre after a hearing at Derby Crown Court yesterday.

Following a five day trial in November, jury had found him guilty of manslaughter despite his denial of killing the 41-year old shop worker.

Nimalaraja’s wife Mathanika said after this sentencing yesterday that they had been left devastated by the events that happened that night and would like to thank the Sri Lankan community and the police for their support. 

We are now beginning to look forward at the future as that support had helped us to piece together our lives, she added.

Known as Nimal among his friends, . Nimalaraja was helping a friend close Leicester Stores in Gipsy Lane around 11.00 am on Saturday, June 9, when he was involved in a argument with a group of youth, according to thisisleicester.co.uk.

The 15-year old boy had punched him in his face to fall backwards and hitting his head on a kerb.

Nimalaraja had opened his eyes and called “amma, amma” (Tamil word for mother) before losing consciousness, as revealed during the court trial.

He died at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham a week later.

Both he and his wife lived nearby in Essex Road with their children Diluxshan 13, and Leyana 9.

Officers who worked on the case said that the “totally avoidable” incident had devastating  effects.

This was a totally avoidable criminal act that has left a family without a loving husband and a father, said Detective Superintendent, Matt Hewson who led the investigation.

He further said that these situations are a reminder to all that such events could escalate and have tragic consequences and hoped that his family could now begin to rebuild their lives.

Nimalarajah was a kitchen assistant at Barnsdale Hall Hotel, Rutland, as well as a worker at the shop.