A man who stood indicted on charges of quadruple murder has been found not guilty and acquitted by North Central Province High Court Judge Indika Attanayake, ending a case that had been pending in the courts for 16 years.
The accused, M. Naleen Sanjeewa of Galkulama in Anuradhapura, a former army corporal, was alleged to have clubbed four people to death with an iron bar on February 2, 2010, following a family dispute. The victims — his wife Sakila Hansamali, her mother T.B. Anulawathie, her aunt T.B. Pathmini and a man identified as M.K. Sampath Anurasiri — were said to have been attacked while lying on a single bed.
The suspect had been committed to stand trial in the High Court after non-summary proceedings before the Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court.
Delivering the judgement, the judge held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. State Counsel Yomali Nagodavithana appeared for the prosecution, while Attorney-at-Law Bhagya Sri Herath appeared for the defence. Anuradhapura Police, who investigated the killings, gave evidence for the prosecution, the Daily Mirror reported.
