W M Aruna Shantha Mendis vs The Attorney General – CA HCC/0268/2019-2022

In The Attorney General v. W M Aruna Shantha Mendis, the Court of Appeal addressed whether the convictions for the murder of Chandi Priyanthika Peiris and the attempted murder of Chathushi Mendis were justified. The Court considered whether the High Court of Panadura correctly assessed the reliability of the child witness, the evidentiary value of dying declarations, and the consequences of the prosecution’s failure to call key witnesses. The appellate findings established that intrinsic deficiencies in the main prosecution evidence, significant doubt created by evidentiary gaps, and misdirection regarding the burden of proof collectively precluded the standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. It was held that the accused was entitled to acquittal, reaffirming the legal principle that con