CA defers appeal against Tangalle murder case verdict for Feb.

By S.S. Selvanayagam

The Court of Appeal yesterday (2) deferred the hearings for the appeal petitions filed by the Attorney General as well as the convicts over the Tangalle murder case judgment of the High Court for 5 and 6 February next year.

The bench comprised Justices S. Devika De L. Tennakoon and S. Thurairaja

Four convicts - former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana, Lahiru Kalum, Saman Deshapriya and Prageeth Chaturanga - had been found guilty of killing British tourist Khuram Sheikh, a 32-year-old International Red Cross aid worker in December 2011 and for raping and brutally assaulting his financee Victoria Alexandrovnay, a Russian national, while holidaying at a tourist resort in Tangalle on Christmas eve and were sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Colombo High Court.

The convicts appealed to the Court of Appeal against their conviction and sentence while the Attorney General filed his appeal claiming that the sentences imposed on the convicts was insufficient and suggested that the convicts should be given the death sentence or life imprisonment.

Deputy Solicitor General Rohitha Abeysuriya appeared for the Attorney General. Kalinga Indatissa (PC) and Dharshana Kuruppu appeared for the convicts-appellant.