"I raped Seya and killed her", ....

"I raped Seya and killed her", ....

Saman Jayalath pleads guilty in courts

Ilandaripedige Saman Jayalath residing in Akarangaha who was indicted in connection with the crime of abducting the 5 year old girl Seya

Sandewmi living at Akarangaha, Badalgama, Kotadeniyawa and then raped her and killed her, pleaded guilty to all charges against him n the presence of Mr. N.V. Karunathilaka, Western Province Negombo High Court Judge yesterday.

Though Ilandaripedige Saman Jayalath was indicted for having abducted the girl Seya Sandewmi from lawful guardianship while she was sleeping on September 11th, 2015 subjecting her to sexual harassment and rape and later killing her; according to High Court Law, the High Court came to a decision that a separate trial should be conducted on the accusation of murder. The defendant yesterday consented to call for a hearing in the absence of a jury. Though no attorney-at-law was prepared to appear in this case on behalf of the defendant at the early stages, Attorney-at-Law Chathura Amaratunga had been appointed by courts for that purpose.

Saman Jayalath appeared in courts with a short hair-cut. While Seya Sandewmi was subjected to abduction on September 11th, her dead body was found on September 13th. Subsequently Ilandaripedige Saman Jayalath was apprehended by Criminal Investigation Department and the spermatozoa discovered in the incident happened to tally with the DNA report regarding him.

Though Saman Jayalath pleaded guilty yesterday, he faced no punishment and the hearing of the case would be conducted on a daily basis, commencing from January 25th, 2016, it was reported.

Information -- Wimal Keerthi, Negombo