Gamini Silva v. Attorney General – sllr 1998 volume 3 page 248

In Weeraratne Gamini Silva (accused-appellant) v. Attorney General, the court considered whether the defense of grave and sudden provocation was available despite an interval between the act of provocation and the infliction of fatal injuries, and if such provocation reduced the accused’s liability from murder to culpable homicide. The murder conviction, originally supported by evidence of multiple injuries and testimonial corroboration, was re-examined in light of the accused’s loss of self-control attributed to improper advances made by the deceased toward the accused’s wife. The findings established that the defense of grave and sudden provocation could be sustained despite the lapse of time between the provoking act and the harmful conduct. Relying on the precedent in Samythamby v. Que