Sri Lanka jails 4 for murder of aid worker
Print Edition
A SRI LANKAN court convicted four men yesterday, including a ruling party town council member, of the murder of a British aid worker and the rape of his Russian fiancee and sentenced them to jail with hard labor for 20 years.
Khuram Shaikh, a 32-year-old Red Cross worker based in Gaza, was shot and stabbed to death on December 25, 2011, at a hotel while on holiday.
His fiancee was beaten unconscious before being sexually assaulted, according to hospital and police records.
Colombo High Court sentenced the four, including Sampath Vidanapathirana, a ruling party supporter and head of the council in Tangalle town, where the two were staying, to “rigorous imprisonment” for 20 years.
Judge Rohini Walgama also fined them 20,000 rupees (US$150) each and ordered them to pay 200,000 rupees each in compensation.
Shaikh’s Russian fiancee, who can not be identified under Sri Lankan law, was in court and seen wiping away tears as the verdict was delivered. The aid worker’s brother, Nasser Shaikh, was also in court.
“While our family and friends find it difficult to come to terms with the tragic loss, I hope today can bring some comfort to everyone involved that we achieved the justice we set out for,” Shaikh told reporters after the verdict.
The case had strained ties with Britain and its High Commission in Colombo welcomed the outcome of the trial.
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