APPEAL COURT SET ASIDE DEATH PENALTY, ORDERS RE-TRIAL

Justice W. L. R. Silva of the Court of Appeal in Sri Lanka set aside the conviction and the death sentence imposed on G. A. Nimal Piyaratne, alias Kassippu Nimal, for murdering U.B. Premalatha, at Pallebedda on March 15, 1999. The court also ordered a re-trial, observing that there were “three unpardonable serious and grave misdirections of law had been made by the trial Judge in his address to the Jury.” Delivering the judgement, with Justice Sisira de Abrew agreeing, Justice Silva held that there was no burden whatsoever on the accused to prove an alibi to any degree of probability.