From Pradeshiya Sabha to

prison!
By Dharisha Bastians-July 19, 2014

Khuram Shaikhs brother Nasser (right) with Deputy British High Commissioner Laura Davies outside the High
Court
Pic by Shehan Gunaratne
Khurams murderers sentenced
to 20 years in prison
High Court convicts Tangalle PS Chairman and three
others for Britons murder and rape of Russian girlfriend
Today I kept a promise to my brother: Nasser Shaikh
Victims brother, family and girlfriend in Colombo for
verdict
British High Commission welcomes verdicts; says ofcials
of Attorney Generals Dept. had shown great
professionalism and integrity
Following a high profle trial in which the defence called no witnesses, the
Colombo High Court yesterday sentenced a ruling party politician and
three others to 20 years in prison for murdering British tourist Khuram
Shaih and raping his !ussian girlfriend in 20""#
$angalle %radeshiya Sabha Chairman and &%F' strongman Sampath
(idanapathirana and three more men were con)icted of the murder of
the *2+year+old British national and !ed Cross worer and the se,ual
assault of his girlfriend (ictoria 'le,androna who were holidaying in
$angalle in 20""#
(idanapathirana was one of si, suspects standing trial in court
proceedings that commenced in -arch this year# $wo of the suspects
were ac.uitted by the High Court# $he ffth and si,th accused were
ac.uitted on the basis that prosecuting attorneys had indicated that
there was no e)idence against them, the /udgment said#
$he other four were sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for
their crimes# 0efence lawyers were critical of the fact that the High Court
1udge had only read out the con)ictions, sentencing and ac.uittals,
without gi)ing reasons for the con)ictions#
$he trial lasted /ust under four months and was mared by witness
testimony that went strongly against the accused in the case# $he
defence team for the si, suspects decided to call no witnesses, but
(idanapathirana and others issued statements from the accused bo,,
pleading their innocence# $hey did not sub/ect themsel)es to cross
e,amination by state prosecutors#
!anga""e #radeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath $idanapathirana being es%orted by po"i%eman a&ter the High Court
verdi%t was de"ivered
$he /udgment was deli)ered by High Court 1udge !ohini 2elgama, before
a courtroom paced to capacity and o)er3owing with media personnel,
lawyers and the )ictim4s family#
Shaih4s girlfriend, 'le,androna who ga)e harrowing testimony at the
beginning of the trial, also arri)ed in Colombo to hear the )erdict in the
case# Khuram Shaih4s family was also present in the courtroom to hear
yesterday4s /udgment deli)ered#
$he case garnered international attention, after Shaih4s hometown -%
Simon 0ans5u and his brother, 6asser Shaih led a campaign to bring
his illers to /ustice#
$oday is a symbolic moment7 a day the country deli)ered /ustice 8 a day 9
deli)ered my promise to a brother,: 6asser Shaih said, after his brother4s
illers were sentenced#
;$hose who illed my brother ha)e been punished and are now behind bars
for a long time# <ur campaign was not only about /ustice, but to bring
awareness of the wonderful wor my brother did around the world, woring
in humanitarian aid,: Shaih said in a statement yesterday#
;$oday, the country has done what many people hoped and prayed for,: the
)ictim4s brother obser)ed#
6asser Shaih thaned the British =o)ernment for being ;instrumental in
seeing answers ;for his family and Sri >anan o?cials for progressing the
trial towards its resolution#
;-ore importantly, 9 want to acnowledge the bra)ery and defance shown
by those who ga)e witness accounts in the case,: Khuram4s brother 6asser
noted#
$he British High Commission in Colombo welcomed yesterday4s )erdict and
sentences handed down to Shaih4s murderers#
;2e hope that this will bring some closure for his family and friends who
ha)e faced a long and di?cult fght for /ustice,: the High Commission said
in a statement released soon after the deli)ery of the )erdict#
$he &K mission said the o?cials of the 'ttorney =eneral4s o?ce had shown
great professionalism and integrity# ;2e would lie to than them# 2e will
continue to monitor any de)elopments in the case closely,: the statement
added#
$he British =o)ernment applied hea)y pressure on the Sri >anan
=o)ernment to act against Khuram Shaih4s illers, especially in the lead up
to the Commonwealth Summit in 6o)ember last year#
'ttorneys for (idanapathirana and the other con)icts pledged to appeal the
ruling#

Khuram Shaikhs 'ussian gir" &riend $i%toria ("e)androna outside the High
Court
Pic by Shehan Gunaratne
Posted by Thavam