Civilian massacre in Kumarapuram: AG appeals against Jury’s HC verdict

By S. S. Selvanayagam

 The Court of Appeal yesterday (22) fixed for September 6 the appeal against the Anuradhapura High Court Jury decision in the alleged massacre of villagers of Kiliveddi in Kumarapuram, Trincomalee.

 The Appeal was filed by the Attorney General against the Jury decision by which six former corporals of the Army were exonerated and acquitted in the High Court case.

 The accused were indicted for the alleged murder of 24 Tamil civilians and injuring 25 others by shooting.

 Senior State Counsel Sudharshana de Silva appeared for the Attorney General. In the appeal, the Attorney General states that the unanimous verdict by the Jury at the Anuradhapura High Court to exonerate and acquit the former soldiers is against the law.

 The Appeal states the plaintiff has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the Defendants were guilty of the accusations against them. The Anuradhapura High Court Jury verdict has exonerated them of all wrongdoing and acquitted them.

 It states it is a complete injustice to the victims in the incident. The six former corporals who were exonerated and acquitted are Sausirigedera Nishantha, N. M. Ajith Sisira Kumara, M. P. Kapila Dharshana, H. M. Abeysinghe, Pavaram Jedige Upasena and Hiti Bandaralage Abeysinghe Hiti Bandara.

 The Attorney General had filed 101 separate indictments in the Anuradhapura High Court against each of these former army corporals. There were 121 witnesses in the case.