Three bench Trial-at-bar to hear Vidya murder

Chief Justice Priyasath Dep has appointed a three member bench to hear the schoolgirl Sivaloganathan Vidya murder case.

The three member bench headed by High Court Judge Balendran Sashi Mahendran comprises Judges Annalingam Premashankar and Manickavasagar Chelian as its other members.

The Chief Justice has also decided that the case should be heard in the Jaffna High Court. The Chief Justice has appointed the three Judge bench after the Attorney General published information in the Jaffna High Court and took steps under the Criminal Procedure Code and informed him in writing about it.

The Daily News exclusively reported on May 6 that Attorney General Jayantha Jayasuriya PC had requested Chief Justice Priyasath Dep to appoint a High Court Trial-at-Bar to hear the murder of Sivaloganathan Vidya.

Nine suspects were indicted on 41 counts including the abduction, gang rape, murder and being members of an unlawful assembly.

Vidya Sivaloganathan of Pungudutivu, an 18-year-old student was abducted, raped and murdered while returning from Pungudathivu Vidyalaya on May 13, 2015.

The rape and murder of Vidya drew wide condemnation and protests throughout the country, especially at her home town in north.