Date : 09/10/2024
Case number : HC(TAB) 2972/21
Brief update
All accused are present before court.
The 17th accused has passed away.
All accused were represented in court.
The medical reports of the 12th accused who was absent on the previous date due to medical reasons was produced to the court by the Mahara prison officials.
The examination in chief of Witness No. 2055 commenced. He is a police Constable who was previously assigned to the TID (Terrorist Investigation Division) at the time. His evidence in chief was concluded. His testimony mainly covered his professional duties, particularly in relation to the 11th accused, including his responsibilities for providing food and ensuring the accused was cared for. The examination-in-chief concluded, and he was cross-examined, the cross examination focused on these duties and his treatment of the 11th accused especially with regards to taking the 11th accused from the 6th floor to the 2nd floor. The cross examination of the witness concluded and no questions were asked in re-examination
Thereafter, evidence in chief of Witness No. 2056 provided his evidence-in-chief. He was also a police constable assigned to the TID. He testified about the events of 7th September 2019, when he was responsible for transferring the 11th accused from the 6th floor to the 2nd floor to hand him over to the Superintendent of Police. He clarified that he handed the accused to the Superintendent of Police and not to an individual named Saman Perera, as was suggested. Cross-examination of this witness also concluded and the state informed that there were no questions to be asked in re-examination.
Following the conclusion of the evidence of the two witnesses, the Attorney General’s department requested that the court issue summons for several witnesses to provide further testimony. These include Witness no. 2051 (Police Constable 25 300), Witness no. 2052 (Police Sergeant 27 568), Witness no. 2550, Witness no. 1509 (Judicial Medical Officer), Witness no. 1502 (Judicial Medical Officer), Witness no. 2053 (Police Sergeant 76636), and Witness no. 2054 (Police Sergeant 33715).
Additionally, the lawyer representing the 13th accused requested that the court grant permission to get in-ward medical treatment for his client’s leg pain and requested to transfer him to Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital for treatment. The judge ruled that before approving any transfer, the medical officer at Mahara Prison must first examine the 13th accused and provide a medical report. The transfer will be considered based on the findings of that report.
The court has scheduled to hear evidence from Witness no. 2050, Witness no. 2051, and Witness no. 2052 on 10 October, 2024.
Matter was fixed for trial on the next date
Next hearing: 10.10.2024 at 1 PM
