Sri Lanka, Feb. 11 -- The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar today (11) sentenced 12 suspects to death in the high-profile murder case of former MP Amarakeerthi Athukorala and his personal security officer, with the three-judge bench delivering a split verdict.

The ruling came after a lengthy trial involving 42 defendants accused of the violent mob lynching in Nittambuwa on May 9, 2022. In addition to the 12 death sentences, four other suspects were handed suspended prison terms, while the remainder were acquitted and released. The decision was divided: the President of the Judge Bench ruled for acquittal of all defendants, but the other two judges reached a majority verdict convicting the 12 suspects to death and giving suspended sentences...