Seya Sandewmi murdered by Saman Jayalath -- Updates 23

The court case relating to the incident of abuse and murder of Seya Sandewmi the pre-school child of Kotadeniyawa which created a sensation in the country some weeks ago was heard today at Minuwangoda Courts.

On that occasion, according to the DNA medical reports this abuse and murder has been committed by the suspect Saman Jayalath, it was confirmed. As the deceased child's father's DNA report did not tally, the suspicion resting on him too has disappeared. A statement given by Saman Jayalath the elder brother of Dunesh Priyashantha alias Kondaya misdirecting the police to say that the latter was involved in this crime was not proved because his DNA report did not tally, he also was freed.

Minuwangoda Magistrate Mr. Ruwan Pathirana announced that samples of genes of Saman Jayalath and external living cells found from the body of Seya tally. This examination was conducted by Gintech Institute of Borella. As such, the statement given in the presence of the  CID and the magistrate by Kondaya's elder brother Saman Jayalath has become a valid one.

This is what he had told the police about the incident: "I normally go to houses in the nights and keep peeping at females. That day I went to this child's house. When I went I saw the child's mother watching TV. When I saw her I took a liking. But at that time I had no way of jumping into the house. The children also are in the house ... and I was frightened that those in the house would be there. Later I kept walking about and it was a little late in the night. When I came again the lights were burning in the room. That time I thought that I would somehow or other do something.  After that I went towards the window and tried to open the door of the window. Then the door of the window was open. Then I jumped in through the window. I jumped inside by keeping my foot on the bed. Even by that time they were asleep. After that I slowly went into the room and searched for a knife inside the house. But there wasn't a knife. In the end I felt scared that if I got near the woman she might shout. I thought that if that happens the crowd would come and there and it would be a big problem. So I changed my decision. By that time the children were asleep. I decided to take the child and go.

Whatever it is, I managed to jump out of the window carrying the child.  It was with great difficulty that I jumped. Taking the child I came towards the wela in the dark. Going along the sandy road I came to the end along the wela. After coming like that I put the child down and raped her. When doing like that the child awoke. After waking up she began to shout. I got scared that she would shout out aloud .... and it was because of that I pulled out the banian she was wearing and throttled her. With that the child died. After that I threw her into the drain that was there and went to the place where bricks were being cut".

The CID told the courts that having abused the child and murdering her the suspect Saman Jayalath had given false information to the police that his brother had committed this murder and had thus tried to get away. Saman Jayalath had made a confession of close upon 2 hours in the presence of the Minuwangoda Magistrate, Mr. Ruwan Pathirana at the official chambers, over this heinous crime. It was after securing this confession that the suspect was remanded.

Saman Jayalath was a labourer by profession. This 36 year old had been living temporarily with his brother Kondaya in the house belonging to his sister in Kotadeniyawa area. The woman to whom he was married to earlier is overseas by now and the woman whom he married later had left him and is supposed to be living separately, it has been revealed. The police have been able to find information that the daughter from his second marriage is married by now while the younger child is living separately with the wife. At the time he was apprehended he had been working at a kiln in Lihiniyagama, it has been revealed.