Somasiri v. Attorney General – sllr 1983 volume 2 page 225

In the case between Somasiri (accused-appellant) and the Attorney-General, the court addressed the admissibility of statements made by a deceased person under Section 32 of the Evidence Ordinance, the adequacy of instructions regarding circumstantial evidence and unsworn dock statements, and whether any non-directions in jury instructions resulted in a miscarriage of justice. It was held that, although certain directions were incomplete or lacking, these omissions did not cause prejudice against the accused, and the original verdict of murder should stand. The principle reaffirmed was that a conviction based on circumstantial evidence remains valid if the totality of such evidence excludes any reasonable hypothesis of innocence, provided the trial process did not result in substantial inju