Pettah Corpse – The Story Behind the Death Sentence

A Tragic Incident from 9 Years Ago

The Colombo High Court has sentenced a man to death for the murder of a woman at a lodge in Hetti Veediya, Colombo, on July 29, 2015. After killing her, the accused placed her body in a travel bag and abandoned it at the Pettah Bus Station before fleeing.

The verdict was delivered by Colombo High Court Judge Aditya Patabendi after a prolonged trial. The accused, Patrick Krishnaraja, was prosecuted by the Attorney General for the murder of Dharmaraja Karthika. The court found him guilty beyond reasonable doubt and handed down the death sentence accordingly.

Discovery of the Body and Start of Investigations

The case initially came to light when a woman’s body was discovered inside a suitcase near the Anuradhapura bus stand on Bastian Mawatha, Pettah. Following media coverage, a lodge manager from Hetti Veediya informed police about suspicious travel bags taken from his premises, as seen in CCTV footage.

Subsequent investigations led to the identification of the deceased and revealed details of a man she had been living with. Police were able to trace and arrest the suspect based on this information.

A Secret Relationship and a Life Together

The deceased had previously been abandoned by her legal husband who remarried and went abroad. She had since been living with the accused for several years. Though not legally married, their relationship appeared stable. They had moved from Jaffna to Colombo around three years prior and worked in poultry farms in places like Kandana and Amourweediya.

A Child Abandoned Due to Poverty

During their time in Kandana, the woman gave birth to a child fathered by the suspect. She also had a child from her previous marriage, who was in the care of relatives. According to the suspect’s confession, they abandoned their newborn at Ragama Hospital due to their severe financial difficulties.

Lead-Up to the Murder

The couple had been staying at the Hetti Veediya lodge for about a week. On the morning of the 29th, a dispute arose between them about regaining employment. The woman received a message from their former employer, offering a job only to her. She refused to go alone, which sparked an argument.

In the heat of the moment, the man assaulted her. Though he claimed it was an impulsive act in response to her hitting him with a slipper, he did not expect it to be fatal. However, she died after receiving a severe blow to the head.

Attempt to Flee with the Body in a Travel Bag

Fearing legal consequences, the suspect cut the body in half, placed it in a suitcase, and planned to flee to his sister’s house in Vavuniya. He headed to the Bastian Mawatha bus terminal with three travel bags, one containing the body.

Due to the weight of the bag, he temporarily left it at the terminal to check for available buses. But when he returned, he saw a crowd and police inspecting the area. Terrified, he abandoned the suitcase and fled to his sister’s house.

Arrest in Mannar

After staying a day in Vavuniya, he moved to a relative’s house in Mannar. While working as a helper in a shop, he was eventually tracked down and arrested. In his confession to the police, he claimed he never intended to kill the woman and that the act was a result of uncontrollable anger. However, his failure to report the crime led to formal charges.

Final Verdict

After a lengthy trial, Judge Aditya Patabendi ruled that the accused was guilty of the charges beyond reasonable doubt. Patrick Krishnaraja was sentenced to death for the murder.

This case is not just about a murder; it reveals the complex interplay of poverty, failed relationships, emotional instability, and social neglect. It is a tragic reminder of how vulnerable individuals can fall through the cracks of society, sometimes with devastating consequences.