Seven accused in the gang rape and murder of schoolgirl Shivaloganathan Vidya (18) have been sentenced to death by a three judge Trial-at-Bar.

The verdict was announced a short while ago at the Jaffna High Court.

Vavuniya High Court Judge B. Sasi Mahendran is President of the Trial-at-Bar. The other members of the bench are Jaffna High Court Judge M. Ilancheliyan and Trincomalee High Court Judge A. Premashankar.

Heavy security prevailed at the Jaffna High Court premises this morning as the accused were led into courts.

Nine accused were on trial for the gang rape and murder of Shivaloganathan Vidya, which took place in 2015.

Hearing in the case began on June 28 and concluded on September 13.

The nine accused in the case are Poobalasingham Indrakumar alias Sinnappa, Poobalasingham Jeyakumar alias Ravi, Poobalasingham Navakumar alias Sendil, Mahalingam Shashidaren alias Shashi, Pillainandan Chandrakasan alias Chandra, Shivaderan Kushange alias Periyathamby, Palani Rubasingham Kuganathan alias Nishanthan Jeyadaran Kokilan alias Kanna, and Mahalingam Shashikumar alias Swiss Kumar.

Seven of the nine accused in Sivaloganathan Vidya’s abduction, rape and murder, were sentenced to death by a three-judge bench of Jaffna High Court a short while ago.

Jaffna High Court Judge M. Elancheliyan while sentencing them said the first and the seventh accused should be released because of the lack of evidence against them.

The seven men found guilty were also sentenced to 30 years rigorous imprisonment and ordered to pay Rs.1 million as compensation to Vidya’s family and in the event they failed to pay, the Jaffna High Court said their term of imprisonment should be extended.

18-year-old Sivaloganathan Vidya of Pungudutivu in Jaffna was abducted, sexually abused and murdered in May 2015.

(Compiled from News reports)