CA fixes Tangalle murder case appeal for 15 Oct.

Wednesday, 13 June 2018 09:18 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Court of Appeal yesterday fixed for argument on 15 October the appeal petitions filed by the Attorney General as well as the convicts in the Tangalle murder case judgment of the High Court.

The bench comprised justices S. Thurairaja and Shiran Gooneratne.

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 (32 years old), an International Red Cross aid worker, and raping and brutally assaulting his financee Victoria Alexandrovnay, a Russian national, while they were holidaying at a tourist resort in Tangalle on Christmas eve 2011 and were sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Colombo High Court.

The convicts appealed their conviction and sentences in the Court of Appeal while the Attorney General filed his appeal claiming that the sentences imposed on the convicts were 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. (SSS)