Twelve men sentenced to death over the killing of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala are now preparing to challenge the High Court verdict before seeking a presidential pardon, setting the stage for a dramatic legal battle.
Twelve individuals convicted over the assault and murder of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his security officer during the recent unrest are preparing to file an appeal against the Gampaha High Court verdict before pursuing a presidential pardon.
Following the announcement of the divided verdict yesterday, relatives of the convicted men consulted their legal teams regarding possible next steps. Lawyers have advised that the proper legal course is first to appeal the High Court decision before the Supreme Court. Only after exhausting that judicial remedy can an application for a presidential pardon be considered.
The defense is now working to submit the appeal promptly, arguing that procedural and evidentiary concerns must be reviewed by the apex court.
The case was heard before a three judge bench of the Gampaha High Court. Out of 37 accused, 12 were found guilty and sentenced to death, while the remaining 25 were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. The presiding judge held that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt for several defendants, leading to their release.
However, the majority of the bench ruled that the 12 convicted men were guilty as charged. The court ordered that the death sentence be carried out on a date to be determined by the President, with the convicts to remain in remand custody until then.
