Jude Shramantha banned from travelling abroad over inquiry into petition against Royal Park killer being pardoned -- Former president to appear at next hearing

Jude Shramantha banned from travelling abroad over inquiry into petition against Royal Park killer being pardoned -- Former president to appear at next hearing 

Convict Jude Shramantha was given president's pardon in the last week of president Maithripala Sirisena's rule and the fundamental rights petition filed by Women's Media Alliance situated at Castle Road, Colombo 8 challenging such pardon was gone into by supreme court today and it was decided to be inquired into. 

During a conflict which occured with his lover's sister Yvonne Johnson within the top-storied housing
complex at the age of 19 he had strangled her and had killed her by dashing her skull on the cement floor into pieces had then proceeded to throw her body down six floors and thus committed a brutal murder and being pardoned for such a person has caused a big uproar. 

In the above connection deceased Yvonne's sister, Jude's lover, Carolyn has expressed her utter contempt from London saying that things have worked out for money. It was further revealed that as the suspect of the murder hailed from an affluential family; various influences were launched to put the matter under the carpet. There was great possibility for this death which occured during the 2005 period when CCTV evidence was not available being buried forever. Investigations were conducted under the direction of CID inspector of police Shani Abeysekera who incidentally has caused some sensation these days and the eagle eyes of this officer was focused on a patch of blood to be seen at the location of the murder. 

Under these circumstances this police inspector Shani and the attorney at law who got together the relevant facts were thus able to deduce this as a strong evidence that the blood stain was that of deceased Yvonne and that the fingerprints found in close proximity were similar to that of Jude Shramantha. In the meantime a popular  cricket Test player has gone to the extent of making Shani confront the Jayamaha family and put through the suggestion of a bribe. Whatever it is, as Shani exposed this bribery story in courts, the said Test cricketer had even to face a fine in court. 

Though Jude Shramantha's family did everything possible to save him from being sentenced to prison, it was to no avail and finally his death sentence was confirmed with a verdict of appeal courts a second time in 2014.  

He was saved from life imprisonment last month and was pardoned .. president Maithri media unit announced saying that the convict was pardoned as a response in relation to a request made by Athureliye Rathana thero, Father Raymond of the South, several attorneys at law and and an organisation. However, in the special announcement made by Father Raymond it was mentioned that attorneys at law stated in Father Raymond's announcement and neither he has made such a request. 

In the meantime Jude Shramantha who enjoyed freedom writing a sympathetic letter has commented saying how he studied seated on a toilet bucket in prison by utilising it as a seat and did his external degree and that his life turned over a new leaf after Athureliye Rathana thero came there to conduct dharma programmes to prisoners. According to what he said, he has stated that his being pardoned is not a sudden decision and that it was a decision arrived at by president after studying his behaviour for a period of time and in thinking about his future. 

But after Jude Shramantha was set free, a number of prison inmates happened to climb the prison roof and start fasting indicating that they too need freedom. It is understood that closing in upon the elections a pledge was made about providing them also consolation when the protest has come to a halt.It was after that a fundamental rights petition was filed by Women's Media Alliance asking that the accused be taken into custody once again and be imprisoned. 

After the petition was scrutinised by a bench of supreme court judges comprising Messrs. Buvaneka Aluvihare, Vijith Malalgoda and Gamini Amarasekera, supreme court issued  an interim injunction by banning Jude Shramantha from travelling overseas. 10 persons including the attorney general, former president Maithripala Sirisena, Don Shramantha Anthoney Jayamaha, prison commissioner general and controller of immigration and emigration were named as respondents. A date was fixed for the next hearing of the petition as December 10th and on the said date former president Maithripala Sirisena has been called to make his explanations for granting pardon.