Khurram Shiekh murder: Appeal to be heard on March 05

The case filed by the Attorney General seeking to amend the punishment on the convicts involved in the murder of British aid worker Khuram Shiekh and the rape of his girlfriend, is to be heard on March 05 by the Appeal Court.

Four suspects including the former Chairman of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha were convicted by the High Court and handed over a 20-year imprisonment sentence over their involvement in the crime which had taken place in 2011.

Meanwhile, the appeal petition filed by the accused challenging the High Court's verdict on the case will be taken up for further hearing on March 05.

This petition was taken up for hearing before the Appeal Court's two-member judge bench of Justices Shiran Gunaratne and Priyantha Fernando.

The attorney-general had filed an appeal requesting that a death sentence or a life imprisonment term be imposed on the convicts andthat the sentences imposed on the convicts  were not sufficient.

Former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana, Lahiru Kelum, Saman Deshapriya, and Prageeth Chathuranga are the convicts in the case.