Appeal Court affirms death sentence on Mel Gunasekera's killer

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal has affirmed the death sentence imposed by the Colombo High Court on a painter who was found guilty of murdering late Journalist Melicia Gunasekera.

The Attorney General had filed indictments against Anthony Ramson George, a painter, on three separate counts for forcibly entering the residence of Melicia Gunasekera on the 2nd of February 2014, committing burglary and stabbing her to death.

In the indictment filed by the Attorney General, the first count is under 436 of the Penal Code. The second count is under 383 of the Penal Code and the third count is under section 296 of the Penal Code.

Following a lengthy trial, the Colombo High Court on the 5th of July 2017, found the accused guilty and sentenced him to death for all counts, and also sentenced him to prison for unlawful entry and burglary.

Thereafter, the accused had filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal to acquit him and release him from all charges.

The Court of Appeal on Wednesday (24) ordered to dismiss the appeal and noted that the Colombo High Court Judge had followed the proper procedure when imposing the death sentence.