Journalist's murder case postponed for lack of witnesses

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 May 2007, 01:31 GMT]
Jaffna magistrate postponed Uthayan journalist Rajivarman's murder case for the third time Tuesday as there were no witnesses to testify at Jaffna High Courts. The police filed a petition requesting the Court to allow more time to find witnesses, legal sources in Jaffna said.

Rajivarman's case was called for hearing on 4 May, 7 May and for the third time on Tuesday at the Jaffna courts when Magistrate Mr. R. T. Wicknarajah postponed the case to 9 July as no one had come forward to testify.

Parents of Rajivarman and his uncle had not cited anyone as implicated or suspected in his killing in their statements.

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the SLA-backed paramilitary are alleged to be involved in Rajivarman's killing, and fear of retribution is preventing witnesses to bear testimony, civil society sources in Jaffna said.

The assailants shot Rajivarman in broad day light within 300 metres from the SLA mini camp guarding the Sri Lanka Petroleum Corporation.

Selvarajah Rajivarman, 25, a young journalist working at Jaffna's Uthayan newspaper was shot dead on April 29 by two gunmen riding motorbike, at Naavalar Road, Rasaavin Thoaddam junction around 10:00 a.m.

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