May 25, LNW (Colombo): Five men convicted of murdering a resident of Bataduwa, Batapola, were sentenced to death by the Balapitiya High Court on Friday.
Delivering the judgment, High Court Judge Ruchira Weliwatta ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond reasonable doubt and convicted all five accused.
The court heard that the victim, Gusthingnawadu Manjula of Bataduwa, was beaten to death with clubs during a clash stemming from a family dispute on July 29, 2007.
The convicted men were identified as Kulappuwawadu Wasantha Jayalath, Kulappuwawadu Pearl Bandula, Kulappuwawadu Nandana Pathmakirithi, Siddha Marakkala Janaka Kumara, and Hinidumage Lahiru Maduranga. All were residents of Batapola, and two of the accused were father and son.
State Counsel Hiruni Gunatileka appeared for the prosecution, while officers of the Meetiyagoda Police gave evidence during the trial.