The appeal filed by former DIG VaasGunawardena, his son Ravindu VaasGunawardena and four police officers challenging Colombo High Court’s judgment to convict them for committing the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam was today fixed for March 7 by Supreme Court.
Justice Priyantha Jayawardena today declined to sit on the bench since he was a member of the Presidential Commission that inquired about the incident relating to this case.
Accordingly, a five-judge-bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justices PriyanthaJayawardena, Vijith Malalgoda, Preethi PadmanSurasena, Gamini Amarasekara and AchalaWengappuli fixed the appeal for March 7 in order to fix a date for argument.
The Supreme Court decided to re-commence arguments following the demise of Justice Prasanna Jayawardene and retirement of Justice Sisira de Abrew who were members of the Supreme Court five-judge-bench. Former DIG Vaas Gunawardena, his son Ravindu VaasGunawardena and four police officers were sentenced to death by Colombo High Court Trial–at-Bar Bench for committing the murder of millionaire businessman Mohamed Shyam in 2013 at Dompe area.
The accused who were ordered to be sentenced to death were; former DIG Vaas Gunawardenaand his son Ravindu Vaas Gunawardena, Sub Inspector Indika Bamunuge, Police Constable (PC) Gamini Sarath Chandra, PC Priyanka Sanjeewa and PC Kelum Ranga.
Through their appeal, six accused-appellants stated that they were seeking the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to review and set aside their conviction and the death sentence imposed by the High Court.
