Eye witness gives evidence in Tamil youth murder in Bamabalapitya sea

[TamilNet, Friday, 06 November 2009, 14:55 GMT]
Assistant News Editor of the TNL television channel, Sisikelum Dahampriya Balage, told Colombo Magistrate Thursday, in the case of the killing of a mentally ill Tamil youth in the Bambalapitya Sea, that he did not inform the police of the incident as several police officers were witnessing the scene and it was his impression it was taking place under the supervision of the police. “I viewed what happened on the beach below through the lens of a camera recorder from the seventh floor of a building located next to the Bambalapitya railway station” he said while giving evidence before Colombo Fort Magistrate, Gihan Pilapitiya, when the murder of Balawarnam Sivakumar, 26, was taken up for inquiry.

The witness further said that he saw a man being chased by three persons towards the sea and saw them assaulting the man they were chasing, with sticks. But he could not clearly make out the three men chasing the lone man were police officers or not. But it was his impression that it took place under the supervision of the police.

Balawarnam Kadirgamanathan, elder brother of the victim, informed court that his brother Sivakumar was mentally unstable and had been so since 2007.

“I have five elder sisters and one younger sister. He is my only brother. He had been undergoing treatment for his mental illness. When I saw him for the last time, he was wearing a black T-shirt and brown trouser. On October 30, I went to the morgue and identified the body of my brother”, the witness said.

He requested the court that a proper investigation should be conducted into the death of his brother.

Navy Officer Upali Prematilake and Yogaraja Darshan, a friend of the brother of the victim also gave evidence. Further hearing was put off for November 20.