Duminda Silva to appeal death sentence before Supreme Court

COLOMBO (News 1st) - The appeal filed by Former MP Duminda Silva who is on death row was taken up for consideration today (July 18). The Attorney General's Department informed the Supreme Court that Duminda Silva and four others were sentenced to death by two High Court Judges after evidence proved they had actively been involved in the Bharatha Lakshman homicide. The case pertaining to the murders of four people including Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra was taken up before a Trial-at-Bar at the High Court and based on the decision reached by two justices, Duminda Silva and four others were sentenced to death. Appeal filed by Duminda Silva is being taken up for consideration before a five-judge bench led by Chief Justice Priyasad Dep. Deputy Solicitor General Thusith Mudalige presented submissions on behalf of the Attorney General today (July 18). The Deputy Solicitor General pointed out that Duminda Silva had taken leadership is all incidents that took place leading up to the murders and that this was a cafe proven through evidence presented by the prosecution. He noted that Duminda Silva had made a statement to vote only for his follower and not his opponent who was contesting for the post of Chairman of Kotikawatte Mulleriyawa Local Government Body at the 2011 elections and citied such a statement being made at election rallies as an attempt to create a conflict between two groups contesting from the same party. The Supreme Court decided to postpone the case till the 22nd of July.