Five-Judge Supreme Court Bench Confirm Death Penalty On Duminda Silva: First Accused Acquitted Of All Charges

A five-judge Supreme Court bench confirmed the death penalty imposed on former Parliamentarian Duminda Silva over the murder of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. 

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Silva's lawyers. filed on the basis that the former Parliamentarian did not face a fair trial. 

First accused in the case, Anura Thushara De Mel, a bodyguard of Silva, was acquitted of all charges by the Supreme Court.

Others acquitted of charges relating to joint possession of weapons.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Priyasath Depp read out the unanimous decision in Supreme Court. 

The verdict was delivered a day before Depp's retirement from office.