Allaipiddi SLN soldiers details submitted to Court

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 August 2007, 01:04 GMT]
Final determination on holding an identification parade for the Allaipiddi murder case of 13 May 2006, where thirteen civilians including eight from the same family were murdered, will be taken on 28 August, Kayts Court decided when the case was taken up for hearing Monday, legal sources in Jaffna said.

Judge T.Vignarajah, appointed as the substitute judge to hear the Allaipiddi case, chaired the hearing Monday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) level officer Mahes Perera appointed by the Sri Lanka Government to a Special Committee to lead the investigations into the Allaipiddi murders appeared at the hearing after a long period of abstainment, legal sources attending the hearing said.

The Court had earlier directed Mr Perera to submit to Court the details of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers posted to the Allaipiddi camp during the time of the murders, and the list of SLN soldiers who were not at the camp between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on 13 May when the murders allegedly occurred.

Mr Perera delivered to the Court today the above lists, including the list of SLN personnel who have been transferred to other areas since 13 May 2006.

Meanwhile, Human Rights lawyer and Counsel for the witnesses in the Allaipiddi case, Mr Remedius, told the judge that many of his clients are currently residing in Vanni as they feared for their lives from the Security forces in Jaffna district.

Mr Remedius told the Judge to consider giving him sufficient advance notice so that he can make arrangements to bring the witnesses from Vanni.

Sellathurai Lillimalar and her daughter, Sellathurai Violet, two close relatives of the eight civilians murdered in Allaipiddi, had told Judge Trotsky during the deposition they gave on the 19 May 2006 that they can identify the two Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) soldiers responsible for the murder of their relatives.