Samarawickrama Liyanage Nandasena vs. Hon. Attorney General – CA/HCC/0241/2023-2024

In the case between Samarawickrama Liyanage Nandasena (Accused-Appellant) and the Hon. Attorney General, together with the Officer in Charge of Police, Akuressa (Complainant-Respondents), the court addressed the legality of the conviction for murder in light of alleged procedural and evidentiary shortcomings. It was concluded that the failure to disclose a critical witness statement, the omission of essential testimony, and the misapplication of evidentiary principles under Sections 114(f) and 27(1) of the Evidence Ordinance resulted in an unfair trial. The holding established that these errors constituted a violation of the accused’s constitutional right to a fair trial, leading to the acquittal. The decision reaffirms the principle that a conviction must be supported by procedurally soun