Colombo, March 6 – The Colombo High Court has sentenced a couple to death for the abuse and murder of a two-year-old child following adoption.
Delivering the verdict today, High Court Judge Sujeewa Nissanka ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The case, filed by the Attorney General, pertained to an incident that occurred in Maligawatta on May 1, 2018. The couple, both around 35 years old, were found guilty of subjecting the child to severe torture, leading to his death.
During the trial, police evidence revealed that authorities had intervened after receiving information about attempts to bury the child’s body without a proper medical examination. Due to suspicions raised, a magisterial inquiry was held, leading to a postmortem examination.
The Judicial Medical Officer’s (JMO) report confirmed that the child had suffered extensive abuse, with 90 injuries found on his body. The report detailed burn injuries, signs of physical assault, and severe trauma to his testicles. The findings indicated that the child had been tortured over an extended period, ultimately succumbing to multiple injuries caused by burns and other violent acts.
In his ruling, the judge emphasized that forensic and medical evidence clearly established the child had been in the couple’s custody at the time of his death and held them responsible for the crime.
With all evidence pointing to deliberate violence, the court sentenced both defendants to capital punishment.
