Perumal Punyamoorthy ACCUSED-APPELLANT Vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA 06/2012-2012

In the case between Perumal Punyamoorthy (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General (Respondent), the court examined whether the conviction and sentence for the murder of Selvamuththu Poobalan could be sustained in light of procedural irregularities concerning the admissibility of a crucial witness’s deposition under Section 33 of the Evidence Ordinance following the witness’s death prior to trial. It was held that the conviction and sentence could not stand due to non-compliance with mandatory procedures for admitting such evidence. The court reaffirmed the principle that strict adherence to procedural safeguards is required when introducing prior testimony from deceased witnesses, referencing established authority from Stephen and Others v. The Queen and The King v. Kadirgamar. Th