Medical evidence continues in Mylanthanai massacre case

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 October 2002, 17:40 GMT]
“ When I was holding postmortem on a body of a male person at Mylanthanai I saw an axe near the scene. The Police then took that axe as a production in this case,” said Dr.Sinnathurai Thadchchanamoorthy, presently District Medical Officer of Valaichchenai government hospital continuing his evidence in the Mylanthanai massacre case before the High Court Judge Mr.S.Sriskandarajah Wednesday.

When the State Counsel produced the axe in court, the witness identified it as the one he found at the scene soon after the massacre. He added that it could have been used to cause several cut injuries found on the deceased persons he held postmortem examinations.

The Mylanthanai massacre case is being heard before a Sinhala speaking Jury.

In this case eighteen soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army have been indicted by the Attorney General with the murder of thirty-five Tamil civilians including men, women and children on 9th August 1992 at Mylanthanai in the eastern province.

Dr.Thadchchanamoorthy further said he held postmortem examinations on six bodies killed in the massacre.

Under cross - examination by the defence, the witness said that the police who accompanied him had recovered several spent bullets from the scene in the presence four of five villagers. Gunshot wounds also found on some bodies.

Counsel Ruwan Dissanayake appeared for the defence. Attorney-at-Law Mr.K.S.Ratnavelu with Attorney Mr. S.Shanmugalingam watched the interests of the victims.

The inquiry is proceeding.