Kalutara Koralage Hemantha Brito vs. The Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0134/2022-2024

In the case between the Attorney General (Complainant/Respondent) and Kalutara Koralage Hemantha Brito (Accused/Appellant), the court addressed the admissibility and reliability of key evidence in a criminal trial involving charges of Grave Sexual Abuse and Sexual Harassment. The issues included the authenticity and discrepancies of video evidence and transcripts, the competence of a material witness, potential undue influence on testimony, and improper admission of certain evidence. The court held that the prosecution did not discharge the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt due to cumulative evidentiary errors and misdirections, culminating in the setting aside of the conviction. The principle reaffirmed is that convictions must be grounded on reliably authenticated and properly ad