Vidanalage Francis Nihal De Mel vs The Hon. Attorney General – 99/2000-2017

In the case between the Hon. Attorney General and Vidanalage Francis Nihal De Mel, the court addressed the validity of a conviction and sentence for murder under Section 296 of the Penal Code, following a jury trial. The court held that the conviction and sentence should be affirmed, finding no material legal errors or miscarriages of justice in the conduct of the trial. It was reaffirmed that minor contradictions in evidence and a split jury verdict do not, in themselves, justify appellate intervention when the prosecution’s case is supported by credible testimony and proper legal directions are given. The decision relied on existing precedent (including Lurdu Nelson Fernando and others Vs AG) and emphasized the principle that unless an apparent miscarriage of justice occurs, appellate co