Embilipitiya Pre-High Court Judge Buddhika C. Ragala yesterday (24) sentenced ten individuals to death, including a father and three women from the same family, for the brutal murder of a youth who had ignored warnings to end a romantic relationship with the father’s daughter.

While imposing the death penalty on the ten accused, the Judge ordered the acquittal and release of two other family members—named as the 10th and 11th defendants in the case—clearing them of all charges.

The Attorney General had filed indictments against 12 defendants under three counts, including membership in an unlawful assembly and the murder of Weerasinghe Arachchilage Varna Dhammika Nayana Kumara. The incident occurred on or around 10.10.2011 in the Mullagasyaya area of Embilipitiya.

Delivering the verdict following a lengthy trial, Judge Ragala stated that the prosecution had successfully proven all three indictments against the ten convicted defendants. However, the Judge noted that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the remaining two defendants beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the 10th defendant, who had evaded court, and the 11th defendant, who had previously evaded court but later surrendered, were acquitted of charges related to being members of an unlawful assembly.

According to the prosecution, the victim had initiated a love affair with a young woman from the accused family. The first defendant (the girl’s father) had severely warned the victim to terminate the relationship.

Ignoring this warning, the victim visited the young woman’s home on the afternoon of 10.10.2011. The prosecution revealed that upon his arrival, the father grabbed the victim, and the other nine defendants joined the assault, attacking him with sharp weapons and beating him to death.

State Counsel Mahen de Silva led the prosecution on behalf of the Attorney General.