The proceedings in the appeal filed on behalf of Ratnapura District Parliamentarian Premalal Jayasekera alias Choka Malli, was taken up for hearing today by the Court of Appeal.
Counsel for accused-appellant Jayasekerasubmitted to the Court that the real murderer of this incident took place in 2015 during the Presidential Election was set free by the Attorney General.
On July 31, 2020, Premalal Jayasekera and two others were convicted by Ratnapura High Court for committing murder of Shantha Dodamgodawhile being engaged in decorating an election stage in Kahawatta area.
Through their appeal, three accused-appellants stated that they were seeking the jurisdiction of Court of Appeal to review and set aside their conviction and the death sentence imposed bythe Ratnapura High Court.
President’s Counsel Nalin Ladduwahettyappearing for third accused Premalal Jayasekeracommenced his oral submissions and alleged that the Attorney General had filed indictments selectively, excluding the real culprits responsible for the commission of the offences.
Making submissions on behalf of the two other accused-appellants, President’s Counsel AnujaPremaratne said that the witnesses into the case were not reliable since they had some interest. He further said the entirety of the evidence was partial and that the judgment of the High Court to convict the accused was not sound in law.
The two judge bench of the Court of Appeal comprising Justice Nissanka Bandula Karunaratne and Justice R. Gurusinghe fixed the appeal for November 25 for further arguments.
