Supreme Court upholds death sentences on four accused in Vidya murder

The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka confirmed on October 6 the death sentences given by the High Court Trial-at-Bar to four individuals, including ‘Swiss Kumar’. They were convicted for the abduction, gang rape, and murder of 18-year-old schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya in the Jaffna District in 2015. The decision came from a five-judge panel led by Chief Justice Preethi Padman Surasena, who rejected the appeals from the accused that aimed for their release. The court also acquitted two other individuals involved in the case. During the ruling, three of the sentenced individuals appeared before the Supreme Court via Zoom. The Attorney General had previously filed charges against ‘Swiss Kumar’ and others in front of a three-judge panel at the Jaffna High Court, related to Vidya’s abduction, gang rape, and murder while she was on her way home from school in Punkuduthivu on May 13, 2015. In 2017, the Jaffna High Court’s Trial-at-Bar sentenced seven individuals to death after they were found guilty. The Supreme Court heard appeals from those sentenced, but one of the accused had died during the appeal process. Due to legal restrictions, the Ada Derana Editorial team has decided to disable comments on all articles about ongoing court cases.