The Court of Appeal yesterday gave time till January 29, 2009, for the parties in the Royal Park murder appeal to file written submissions.

The Attorney General has appealed against the High Court Judgment, which convicted Don Sharmantha Anthony Jayamaha of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder of Yvonne Jhonsson of Royal Park, Welikada. The High Court imposed a sentence of 12 years rigorous imprisonment with a fine of Rs. 3,00,000/- on Jayamaha.

The Attorney General had said in the appeal that Jayamaha should be convicted of murder, and the High Court had erred in convicting him of culpable homicide only.

The Defence for Jayamaha said that the High Court did not state in the order that Jayamaha was acquitted of murder. Hence, the Attorney General could not come to the Court of Appeal, seeking an appeal to convict Jayamaha for murder. The application to the Appeal Court should be, by way of a revision on the High Court order.

Ranjith Abeysuriya PC appeared for Jayamaha, the accused respondent in the Court of Appeal. The Deputy Solicitor General Jayantha Jayasuriya, appeared for the Attorney General.

The Court of Appeal Bench comprised, Justice S. I. Imam and Justice Sarath Abrew.