News
Rape and murder of Vidya: Verdict on September 27
View(s):The Trial at Bar appointed to hear the rape and murder case of Punkuditheevu schoolgirl Sivalokananthan Vidya, will deliver its verdict on September 27, after final submissions concluded this week.
Deputy Solicitor General P.Kumararatnam in his final submission told court that it had been proven without doubt that four of the nine suspects were directly involved in the brutal rape and murder while three others were aiding the crime.
He also acknowledged that charges against first and seventh suspects were not proven by the prosecution due to lack of evidence.
The 41charges levelled by the prosecution against the nine suspects included planning to abduct, rape and murder the victim and aiding abetting the crimes. When the charge sheets were read out in court, all suspects pleaded not guilty.
Sivalokananthan Vidya was abducted, gang raped and murdered in May 2015 when she was on her way to school.
Solicitor General Kumararatnam also informed court that one of the main suspects, Mahalingam Sasikuamr alias Swisskumar, tried to give a bribe of Rs 20 million to head of the CID investigation team, I.P. Nishantha Silva to escape from this case.
The three member Trial at Bar headed by Vavuniya High Court Judge B.Sasi Mahendran included Trincomalee High Court Judge Annalingam Premashankar, and Jaffna High Court Judge M.Ellencheliyan.
Meanwhile, Senior Deputy Inspector General Police (DIG) Lalith Jayasinghe who was remanded on charges of assisting suspect Swisskumar to escape to Colombo was granted bail by the Kayts Magistrate Court under strict conditions. They included four personal bails worth Rs 50,0000 and surety bail of Rs 300,000. In addition to being barred from foreign travel he has to place his signature every Monday at the CID headquarters in Colombo.