News
Open verdict on mentally disturbed woman’s death
View(s):The Colombo city Coroner this week returned an open verdict into the death of a woman who claimed that she was haunted by evil spirits and was later found fallen at her residence, with cut injuries which had led to her death.
The victim, Pryanthini Kumuduni (45), was employed as an Administrative Officer in a Japanese company situated in Kuda Buthgamuwa.
Umesh Madhushan, an Executive officer at the company, told the Coroners court inquiry that Ms Kumudini often complained she was haunted by unusual sounds and unusual actions including disappearance of part of her food from the parcel at office.
Accordingly, the owner of the building they occupied was informed and the services of an exorcist was obtained to conduct a ritual on April 9, to drive away the evil spirits.
On the day of the incident, last Wednesday, Ms Kumudini had left for work, but returned home shortly afterwards as she was ill. However, around 10.30 am, she had wanted to get back to work and returned to office, the inquiry was told by her husband S.A.D. Shantha Kumara.
She had collected her salary and returned home around 1 pm and rested.
Mr Kumara said that, two hours later, he went looking for her and found her fallen in the pantry with cut injuries.
She was admitted to hospital, but succumbed to her injuries.
Police produced a note reportedly left behind by Ms Kumudini, in which she had stated she was in a disturbed state of mind.
Inquirer into sudden deaths Ashroff Rumy said a further inquiry into the death was needed, and fixed the inquiry for April 31.
Judicial Medical Officer W.A.C. Lakmali, in the postmortem report, noted that death was due to excessive bleeding and further investigations are ongoing.