Jayathilake v. The Attorney General – sllr 2003 volume 1 page 107

The case between Jayathilake and the Attorney-General addressed the issue of whether the trial judge correctly directed the jury regarding the defence of intoxication, with specific reference to the distinction between voluntary and involuntary intoxication as outlined in sections 78 and 79 of the Penal Code. It was held that the directions provided to the jury on self-induced and administered intoxication were inadequate, resulting in a legal misdirection. The conviction for murder was set aside and replaced with a conviction for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and the sentence of death was substituted with 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The decision reinforced the principle that the degree and nature of intoxication must be properly considered by the jury, and that the rel